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  Euchre Tips and Strategies

Euchre Column of the Month – February 2001

By Joe Andrews

The Official Rules of Euchre

From time to time, I receive e-mails and inquiries regarding the rules of Euchre.  Many card games have multiple variations, and this one is no exception!  Here is a recent letter (quoted exactly as written).

"My name is _____," and I have played Euchre on Zone.com several times. While I enjoy playing Euchre online, most of my play occurs with a club I'm a member of. Many members have what I know to be somewhat skewed rules (eg, you can go alone when ordered up, a euchre performed with a lone hand is four points, etc.). Would you please send me the address of a website where I can get the Official Rules? I'd appreciate it!"

Well, here are the Official Rules of Euchre according to US Playing Card Co. (Cincinnati, OH), excerpted from The Official Rules of Card Games, Copyright 1999. They have published these rules since 1887. In addition, yours truly wrote a pamphlet highlighting the strategy and rules of Euchre as part of a Double Deck edition in 2000. Thus, I think all of the bases are covered!

To save some time, I’ve omitted most of the basics. We know what a trump is, the rank of the cards, and what "ordering up," "assisting," and "taking it up" are all about!  If you are a beginner, there are many books, including the aforementioned Bicycle (USPC) book above, that will be of great assistance.

The Standard Game consists of a deck of 24 cards (Ace through the 9). There is no Joker. Once the trump is fixed, either by acceptance of the turned-up card or by the naming of another suit, the bidding ends and the play proceeds.

PLAYING ALONE
If the person who fixes the trump decides to play alone (without the help of his or her partner), he declares "alone" at the time of making the trump.

THE PLAY
The opening lead is made to the dealer's left. If this player's partner is playing alone, the lead is made by the player across from the dealer. Players must follow suit; if void, the option to discard or play trump now applies.

SCORING
Points are earned in the following manner:

Partnership making trump wins 3 or 4 tricks

1 Point

Partnership making trump wins all 5 tricks

2 Points

Lone hand wins 3 or 4 tricks

1 Point

Lone hand wins all 5 tricks

4 Points

Partnership or lone is "Euchred" (fails to win 3 tricks)

2 Points

Note -- There is no bonus for Euchring a lone hand in the Standard Game (other than the usual 2 points).

The game limit is 10 points, although it may be shortened to 5 or 7 points.


Now, we have the variations:

"RAILROAD EUCHRE"
This is a term that describes, a number of versions designed to speed up the scoring. Remember, these are variations, or options, and should be discussed before playing.

1.       Use of a Joker as the highest trump in the deck.

2.       DEFENDING ALONE -- Either opponent of a lone player may also call "alone," and defend against that player. Thus, we have a two-handed game! In this situation, the Euchre of a lone hand by a lone opponent counts as 4 points.

3.       "STICK THE DEALER" -- The Dealer must name trump if there are three passes to him on the second round of bidding.

4.       The Dealer's partner must go alone if the Dealer "assists." From what I hear, this rule is played in parts of Canada (!).

5.       The Dealer must discard before the opening lead is made, or before he or she picks up the top card. (This rule is very strange.)

6.       The Dealer must deal the cards in batches of three and then two (or vice versa) to each player.

7.       A player may ask for a re-deal if he or she has no side-suit Ace or a trump card. (Give me a break!)

I hope this helps to "clear the air"!

If you are organizing a non-profit, "Live" Euchre Event, and want it announced in this column, send the info to me at this address:  heartsmoon@aol.com  Be sure to allow sufficient time (at least three months) before your Tournament occurs.