How to play Euchre
Euchre is a fast partnership game played with 24 cards. You and your partner (North) try to win at least three of the five tricks after choosing trump. The first team to 10 points wins.
The cards
Only the 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each suit are used. Once trump is chosen, the Jack of trump (the right bower) is the highest card, and the other Jack of the same color (the left bower) is second highest. The left bower counts as a trump, not as its own suit. Then come the Ace, King, Queen, 10 and 9 of trump.
Choosing trump
- Each player gets five cards, and the top card of the rest is turned face up.
- Round one: starting left of the dealer, each player may order it up, making that card’s suit trump. The dealer then picks up the card and throws one away. Or they may pass.
- Round two: if everyone passes, each player may name any other suit as trump. In our game the dealer must choose if everyone else passes again (“stick the dealer”), so there are no redeals.
- The player who chooses trump may go alone: their partner sits out the hand for a chance at 4 points.
Playing
- The player to the dealer’s left leads. You must follow suit if you can (remember the left bower is a trump).
- The highest trump wins; with no trumps, the highest card of the suit led wins.
Scoring
| The team that chose trump… | Points |
|---|---|
| wins 3 or 4 tricks | 1 |
| wins all 5 tricks (a march) | 2 |
| wins all 5 going alone | 4 |
| wins fewer than 3 (euchred): the other team scores | 2 |
How to play here
- When it’s your turn to bid, use the buttons under the table. Hint tells you what the computer would do.
- If you’re the dealer and trump is ordered, tap the card you want to throw away.
- Tap a card to play it. Cards you can’t play are greyed out.
Tips
- Two or three trumps including a bower, plus an off-suit Ace, is usually enough to order up.
- If your team chose trump, lead trumps early to draw out the other team’s.
- Don’t overtake your partner’s winning card; throw your lowest card instead.
Questions
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it’s free with no sign-up. Your game is saved in this browser after every card.
Do the computer players cheat?
No. Each decides using only its own cards, the turned-up card, and the cards played so far.