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Euchre is a classic partnership trick-taking game played with a short deck of 24 cards. One team names trump and must take at least three of the five tricks. The jacks are the strongest cards, so every hand is a quick puzzle of when to call trump and when to pass.
- Players
- You and a computer partner vs 2 computer players
- Cards
- 24 cards (9 to Ace)
- Game length
- 10–20 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
How to play Euchre
- Four players play in two teams of two. Each player gets five cards.
- Players take turns deciding whether the turned-up card's suit becomes trump; if everyone passes, another suit can be named.
- The jack of trump (right bower) is the highest card, followed by the other jack of the same color (left bower).
- The team that named trump scores 1 point for 3 or 4 tricks and 2 points for all 5. If they take fewer than 3, they are euchred and the other team scores 2.
- A player who is confident can go alone, without their partner, for 4 points on a sweep.
- The first team to 10 points wins.
How to win at Euchre: strategy and tips
Euchre is a partnership game: you and the computer sitting across from you win or lose together. Most points are won or lost when trump is chosen, so good decisions there matter more than anything else.
Count sure tricks before you order up
You need three of the five tricks. Count the cards that should win on their own: the right bower, the left bower, the ace of trump, and aces in other suits. Two strong trumps plus an outside ace is usually a sound call. One trump and a hope is not.
Mind who picks up the card
Ordering up gives the turned-up card to the dealer. When your partner deals, that extra trump helps your team, so you can call a little lighter. When an opponent deals, you hand them a trump, so you need a stronger hand.
Think about "next" in the second round
If the dealer turns the card down, the other suit of the same color, called "next", is often a good call. The dealer's team just showed they were not strong in that color, and the same two jacks are the bowers in both suits. The player left of the dealer calls "next" more often than anyone else for this reason.
Play as a team
When your partner is winning a trick, do not overtake it. Play a low card instead. When your partner called trump, lead trump to draw out the opponents' trumps. When the opponents called it, lead an ace from another suit while it can still win.
When to go alone
Going alone scores 4 points if you take all five tricks. Try it with the right and left bower plus another high trump and an outside ace, or with four trumps. If you are not confident of all five tricks, play with your partner: a normal win still scores.
Mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting that the left bower belongs to the trump suit, not its own suit.
- Trumping a trick your partner is already winning.
- Ordering up a weak hand to an opponent who deals. A euchre gives them 2 points.
Euchre questions
What are the bowers in Euchre?
The right bower is the jack of the trump suit and is the highest card. The left bower is the other jack of the same color, and it counts as a trump card.
How many points do you need to win Euchre?
A standard game of Euchre is played to 10 points.
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