Euchre
Call trump, use the bowers and win three tricks with your partner.
How to play Euchre
Euchre is a fast trick-taking card game for four players in two teams. You and the partner across from you play against the two players on your sides. It uses only 24 cards: 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each suit. Everyone gets 5 cards, and one card is turned face up on the rest of the deck.
Goal
The team that chooses trump must win at least 3 of the 5 tricks. The first team to 10 points wins the game.
Choosing trump
- Starting left of the dealer, each player may order up the turned card. Its suit becomes trump and the dealer takes the card and throws away another one.
- If all four players pass, the card is turned down. Each player may now name any other suit as trump, or pass again.
- If everyone passes twice, the cards are thrown in and the next player deals.
- The player who chooses trump may go alone. Their partner puts the cards down and sits out the hand.
The bowers
The Jack of the trump suit is the right bower, the highest card. The other Jack of the same colour is the left bower, the second highest, and it counts as a trump. Then come Ace, King, Queen, 10 and 9 of trump.
Playing tricks
The player left of the dealer leads. You must follow the suit that was led if you can (remember the left bower belongs to trump). Otherwise, play any card. The highest trump wins, or the highest card of the led suit if no trump was played. The winner leads next.
Scoring
- Calling team wins 3 or 4 tricks: 1 point. All 5 tricks (a march): 2 points.
- Going alone and winning all 5 tricks: 4 points.
- Calling team wins fewer than 3 tricks: they are euchred and the other team gets 2 points.
On this site, use the buttons in the middle of the table to call, then click or tap your cards to play. Undo and auto-save work as in every game here.
Strategy tips
- Count your trumps before you call. Three trumps, or two strong ones plus an off-suit Ace, is usually enough to order up.
- Think about who gets the turned card. Ordering it up gives the card to the dealer. That helps if the dealer is your partner and hurts if it's an opponent.
- Lead trump when you made trump. Pulling the other players' trumps protects your Aces in the other suits.
- Don't beat your partner. If your partner is already winning the trick, play your lowest card and save your strong ones.
- Go alone only with a sure hand. The right and left bower plus another high trump and an Ace is a good alone hand.
Euchre FAQ
What are the right and left bowers in Euchre?
The right bower is the Jack of the trump suit and is the highest card. The left bower is the Jack of the other suit of the same colour; it becomes a trump and is the second highest card.
What does it mean to be euchred?
If the team that chose trump wins fewer than three tricks, they are euchred. The other team then scores 2 points.
What happens if everyone passes?
After two rounds of passing, the hand is thrown in and the deal moves one seat to the left. A new card is turned up.
Can I play Euchre alone against the computer?
Yes. You always play with a computer partner against two computer opponents, and you can choose Easy, Medium or Hard.
