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  Euchre Tips and Strategies

Euchre Column of the Month – September 2002

By Joe Andrews

1. Beginner’s Korner

Bidding Strategy

Bidding is the most important part of Euchre. No matter how well you may play the hand, the wrong bid will often spell defeat.  There are only 20 cards (five tricks) in play; thus much of the skill factor rests in the bidding. Timid players and ultra-aggressive players may win occasionally; however, they are doomed to failure over the long haul. You must make the effort to read the position, and take action. Awareness of the score is essential.  If you are the Eldest hand (player to the left of the dealer), you must consider the fact that the odds favor a distribution of one trump in each hand. Thus, if you order up, you are facing the likely prospect of challenging at least two trump in the dealer's hand.  The task becomes especially daunting if you order a Bower to the dealer. You will lose two points if you order up and do not take three tricks, and gain only one point if you do succeed -- unless you sweep all five tricks. Thus, you should pass in first position unless you have at least a 2-1 edge in favor of winning the minimum of three tricks against two trumps, and your cards are such that you would not have as good a chance if you made the trump.

If you are strong in trump, and equally strong in another suit, your best move as Eldest hand is to pass!  Thus, if the dealer picks up the turned card, he may lose the point for his side, and get euchred. If he passes, then you can make the trump and are better off, since the dealer did not get the up card.  If you are about to make trump and have good cards in two suits of different colors, by all means, make it next (the other suit of the same color as the up card). If the dealer's partner is strong in the trump suit, he should assist or order to his partner. If he is strong in non-trump suits, he must pass unless he is virtually certain of two tricks for his partner. Lastly, the dealer should always be leery of picking up the turned-up card with a borderline hand. After all, his partner passed, and the opponents may be laying a trap. There is a lot more to this game than meets the eye!

Bidding Quiz

Here are three hands.  The up card is the Queen of Diamonds.
The score is 0-0 / the format is the standard 10-point game.

Hand A

 J
 Q 10
 A
 J

Hand B

 Void
 A
 10
 K Q 9

Hand C

 K
 K
 J
 Q 9

1.       You are dealer. The bidding is pass-pass-pass. What is your call with each of these hands?

2.       You are the dealer's partner.  The Eldest hand (first seat) passes. What action (if any) do you take with each of the above hands?

3.       You are the Pone (player in the third seat, to the immediate right of the dealer). Your partner (Eldest hand) passes, and the dealer's partner also passes.  It is your turn. What do you do with each of the above hands?

Advanced Alley -- Procedural Rules

There are many "live" Euchre events these days, with varying interpretations of the rules of the game.  These are the rules that will be used at the National Event. Do not confuse with variations.

a.       Dealer: The first dealer is determined by a cut of the deck by each player, with high card winning. After a shuffle, the deck is offered to the right for a "cut." Deals may be made one card at a time, or in two's and three's. If there is a dispute about the latter, the cards will then be dealt singly.

b.       Misdeal:  If the dealer exposes a card during the deal, or if the deck has a "boxed" (exposed) card, the hand MUST be re-dealt. If the wrong player deals, and this is not discovered BEFORE the up card is turned, the erroneous deal stands. Otherwise, the deal reverts to the right player.

c.        Bidding (in rotation): If a player orders it up as an opponent of the dealer, or assists as the dealer's partner, this is deemed an acceptance of trump.

d.       Bid out of turn: If a player makes any declaration of trump, other than a pass, this (declaration) is void, and his or her side may NOT make the trump.

e.       Incorrect # of cards:  All hands MUST be counted before the bidding commences. If an error is discovered, then a new deal occurs. If bidding and play occurs, the side with the improper hand may not score a point for that deal. The Director will be called for a final ruling.

f.        Exposed card: If a card is prematurely exposed during the deal or play, it will be declared a "penalty" card, and is left face-up on the table and played at the first legal opportunity. The Director will be called to make a final ruling.

g.       Opening Lead / Lead out of turn: The Eldest hand makes the first lead if the dealer names the trump. The dealer must complete his or her discard before the opening lead is made. If anyone leads out of turn, and the other three players continue play until the trick is completed, the lead is condoned, and the trick stands. However, if a lead out of turn is addressed, the incorrectly played card becomes a penalty card. Either opponent may, however, accept the incorrect lead, and follow to it accordingly. The Director will be called to make a ruling.

h.       Completed tricks: Any book or trick of four cards is deemed as "quitted," and must be turned facedown. Once the first card to the next trick is led, the previous trick may not be examined -- except by the Director.

i.         Revoke (Renege):  Failure to follow suit when possible is deemed a "Revoke".  This is a severe infraction of the Rules. A Revoke may be corrected before the next trick is led to; this is called a "renounce." The incorrectly played card becomes a penalty card.  An established Revoke will result in a 2-point penalty (deduction) from the score of the offender and a 1-point award to the other side.

A Revoke against a Loner will result in a 2-point (deduction) from the score of the offending side, and a 4-point award to the non-offending side. The Director must be called to make the final ruling.

The Rules are there to protect all players - not to hurt anyone in particular

Take care.  See you next month!