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  Euchre Tips and Strategies

Euchre Column of the Month – March 2002

By Joe Andrews

Assisting

This topic was reviewed several months ago. Basically, there is an optional rule in many parts of Canada requiring the dealer's partner to go alone if he orders. This has been the topic of some controversy.  A few well-known Euchre authors have clearly stated that this rule is very poor, and that dealer's partner must remain quiet in second seat unless he "believes" that the dealer cannot go alone. Most "live" Tournaments do not enforce this rule. My opinion is that this "forced loner" rule is bad, and I endorse the previously published material.

 But, wait -- not so fast here -- there are some interesting counter arguments. Here is a synopsis which was submitted by "Christian K" -- a very capable player.

1.       Without a forced Loner, dealer's partner may assist on borderline holdings.

2.       Without a forced Loner, dealer will know that his partner has a worthless hand if he passes in second position.

3.       Without a forced Loner, the dealer's partner often will steal Loners if he chooses to assist his partner.

4.       Without a forced Loner, the dealer's side has a distinct advantage at the beginning of a game.

Do you have any thoughts on this?  (See "addy" at end of column).

Play of the Hand (Quiz)

Although aggressive bidding is the key to success in Euchre, the play of the hand often decides the outcome of many games.

Here are few hands which were observed in a recent "live" event in Canada. How would you have handled these situations?

You are the Dealer, and three passes have come along to you. It is a round-robin (Individuals) format, and points are at a premium. Some of these calls are made with very thin hands.

Hand # 1: (Upcard is the Right -- Spades are trump.) You snap up that Jack, and bury the 9 of Clubs from your hand. You now hold:

 K J
 A
 K Q
 Void

West leads the 10 of Diamonds. Partner plays the Ace, and East, irritatingly enough, trumps with the Ace of Spades, as you play the Queen. He now shifts to the King of Hearts, and you drop your Ace, as West follows with the Heart Queen, and partner plays the Heart 9. What is your best course, and why?

Hand # 2 -- (Upcard is the 10 of Hearts; you pounce on it, and bury the singleton Spade Queen from your hand, reducing to a two-suiter.) You feel good about this collection:

 Void
 A 10 9
 Void
 A 10

West leads the Ace of Spades, and partner surprisingly trumps in with the Queen. East shocks you with the King of Hearts, as he is also void in Spades!  Now what? How do you proceed?

Hand # 3 -- (Upcard is the left -- Hearts are trump.) You just cannot resist having both Bowers in your hand!  Too bad Spades were not trump!  Off goes your singleton Jack of Clubs.  You are left with:

 K Q 10
 J
 J
 Void

This is not the greatest hand; however, if partner can supply just one measly trick, you will be home!   West trots out the Ace of Clubs, as partner and East follow with the 9 and 10 respectively.  Do you trump with a Bower?  Do you discard a Spade?  Come up with a plan.

All information and the correct quiz solutions (based on best-play analysis) will be posted in the April column.