| Announcing:
"The Complete Win At Euchre" -- scheduled for release in October, 2004.
This is the fourth Book in "The Complete" Card Game Series. Spades, Hearts, and Bid Whist have already been published during the past six years.
Look for additional details in the September column.
Progressive Format: "Live" Euchre Events.
Euchre is one of those games which have a significant Internet presence and a "live" event structure. Euchre is hugely popular in the Mid- West, as well as most of Ontario, Canada, and upstate New York. Leagues and small events abound, and you can find a weekend tournament in many clubs, bars, or fraternal organizations. In addition to these, there are many regional "live" events, which often draw more than one hundred players!
A very popular tournament format is called "Progressive." Instead of the traditional ten point limit game, each participant will play 64 hands in an 8 x 8 layout. In the typical partner's event, a team will play eight hands against one pair, then move to another table and play eight more hands against another pair. This process continues until each pair has played eight hands against eight different pairs. A nice advantage to this system is the uniformity. Each round is usually completed within 15 or 20 minutes and a full tournament is over within 3 or 4 hours. Another nice feature is that everyone plays the same number of hands. Directors may also choose to run a Round Robin (or Individuals') event. Here, the players have a different partner, as well as different opponents for each round.
The strategy for Progressive is much different than that for the Standard "Tens" game. The idea is to pile up as many points as possible. Because each hand is its own separate entity, and not part of a ten point game, the accent is on very aggressive play. Some calls can be very "thin," indeed. Loners rule! You cannot win in Progressive by settling for one point results. The only time you should pass is when you have a flat hand, no decent values, and absolute junk. Deals with two solid trump and a side King are worth a shot. Two-suited hands are a premium, especially if you have three trump. If you average nine points a round, you should be in the money. Another good idea is to look at the score of your opponents, as the later rounds of the tourney are unfolding. If they are having a bad game you can really go all out, as any Euchres you might sustain will not help them. On the other side of the coin, if the ops are doing well, you might want to be a bit more conservative. When playing with a new partner in the Round Robin variation, lean on the conservative side for the first two hands, until you have an idea as to their ability.
Progressive is fun and efficient way to play the game!
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| Up Card - Nine of Hearts
In a tournament, three passes come around to South. West will probably call "Next," if South passes, and this will make, as long as West does not lead trump initially. Instead, our hero, South, goes off the wall and picks up the nine of hearts! This is a very bad decision. He drops the diamond ten, and reaches for a beer. West makes the normal lead of the Ace of diamonds. This rides around to South, who trumps with one of his cheesy spot cards. The King of spades is tabled and it walks! Now, South tries the King of clubs and North trumps with his lone Ace. There is no further commentary, as the two Bowers make their appearance on the last two tricks. Play 'em thin and make 'em spin!
The Spades Connection -- "Live" Spades Events
For a listing of "live" Euchre events, please go the Grand Prix Site.
Have a great August! See you next month....
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