Euchre
The quick partnership trick game of the American Midwest, Ontario and Cornwall. Five cards each from a pack of 24, one suit named as trumps, and the two Jacks of the trump colour, the bowers, on top. Call trumps and take three tricks with your partner, or go alone for four points.
Four players in two partnerships. A game takes 5 to 10 minutes. More card games: Hearts, Spades, Gin Rummy and Cribbage are in Yuzool's Card Games too.
How to play Euchre
- The deal: 24 cards (9 to ace), five each, and one card turned up.
- Making trumps: from the dealer's left, each player may order the turned card's suit as trumps (the dealer takes that card and discards one) or pass. If all four pass, the card is turned down and each may name a different suit or pass.
- The bowers: the Jack of trumps (the right bower) is the highest card. The other Jack of the same colour (the left bower) is second highest and counts as a trump.
- The play: the dealer's left leads. Follow suit if you can; the highest trump, or the highest card of the suit led, wins the trick.
- Going alone: the player who makes trumps may play without their partner for a bigger score.
Tap a card to play it, or drag it to the table. Cards you can play are raised; tap a dimmed card to see why it can't be played. Undo takes back your last play until the next player has played. The full rules, with worked examples, are in How to play Euchre.
Scoring
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Makers take 3 or 4 tricks | 1 |
| Makers take all 5 (a march) | 2 |
| Alone, 3 or 4 tricks | 1 |
| Alone, all 5 | 4 |
| Makers take fewer than 3 (euchred) | 2 to the other side |
The first side to 10 points wins.
Tips
- Count three tricks before you call: two sure trumps and an ace off-suit is a fair hand.
- The turned card goes to the dealer. Order it up more freely when your partner deals, less when an opponent does.
- Lead trumps when you made them to draw out the other side's.
- Don't trump your partner's ace.
Questions
Is Euchre free to play here?
Yes. Euchre with a house partner against Easy and Medium opponents is free, with no ads and no sign-up. Card Games Pro, a one-time $1.99 upgrade for all five games, adds the Hard players, full statistics, rule options and extra card backs and tables.
Which rules are these?
The standard North American game: 24 cards, five tricks, to 10 points, with going alone. If everyone passes twice the deal moves on. Pro adds "stick the dealer" and shorter games to 5 or 7.
Is this the British game with the Benny?
No. British euchre is usually played with a 25th card, the Benny or Best Bower (a joker), as the top trump. This version uses the 24-card pack without it.
What does euchred mean?
The side that named trumps took fewer than three tricks. The other side scores 2.