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  Euchre Tips and Strategies

Euchre Column of the Month – May 2002

By Joe Andrews

Defense at Euchre

The consistent winners at Euchre know when to order up, and when to pass.  Knowledge of percentages and the ability to remember which cards have been played is helpful. However, this a game of psychology and intuition, and the meek do not always inherit the earth!  There are hands in which you must play defense.  If you are sitting to the left (Eldest hand) of the dealer, you have an advantage with the first lead. A careless decision might result in a sweep, or allow the dealer to make a point. Here are five hands for review. The score is 0-0 at the beginning of a game.

1.       Dealer has picked up the Ace of Hearts. You hold:

 Q
 Q 10
 A Q
 None

What is your best lead?

2.       Dealer has picked up the Jack of Diamonds. You hold:

 10
 J
 A
 Q 9

What is your best lead?

3.       Dealer has picked up the King of Clubs. You hold:

 A
 A
 10
 10 9

What is your best lead?

4.       Dealer has picked up the King of Diamonds. You hold:

 9
 K Q
 J 10
 None

What is your best lead?

5.       Dealer has picked up the Ace of Spades. You hold:

 K 10
 K 9
 None
 Q

What is your best lead?

ANSWERS:

1.       Lead the Queen of Spades.  If partner has the Spade Ace, you may get a Club lead from him.  A Diamond lead is bad, as you have a natural finessing combination. Don't even consider a trump lead!

2.       Lead the Spade 10.  This will be a tough hand to set, unless partner has one of the black-suit Aces, and a void. You have a "natural" trump trick, and still need a lot of help here…

3.       This is a classic situation.  Lead either Ace. If dealer trumps this, you will save the other Ace until the end. A trump lead may be tempting; however, you do not want to get squeezed between the two Aces.

4.       You hold the Master trump. Try the King of Hearts.  You might get lucky and win this trick.  If the Heart Ace is taken by the opponents, you should win the expected trump return, and then try the Heart Queen.

5.       The Queen of Clubs is best, as it is necessary to protect your Kings.

Next column will feature the second part of defensive play, and the importance of ducking in second seat, after the maker has taken the first trick, and then leads an off-suit lower card.