How to Play Euchre
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.
Play Euchre now Printable score sheet
- Players
- You and a computer partner vs 2 computer players
- Cards
- 24 cards (9 to Ace)
- Game length
- 10–20 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
The goal
Euchre is played by two teams of two, with partners sitting across from each other. Your team scores points by winning tricks, and the first team to reach 10 points wins the game.
The cards
Euchre uses 24 cards: the 9, 10, jack, queen, king and ace of each suit. Each player is dealt five cards. The four cards left over are the kitty, and the top card of the kitty is turned face up.
Trump and the bowers
One suit is chosen as trump for each hand. Trump cards beat all cards of the other suits. The two jacks of the trump color are the most powerful cards:
| Rank | Card (example: hearts are trump) |
|---|---|
| 1 (highest) | Right bower: the jack of trump (J♥) |
| 2 | Left bower: the other jack of the same color (J♦). It counts as a heart for the whole hand. |
| 3–7 | Ace, king, queen, 10 and 9 of trump |
In the other suits, cards rank ace (high), king, queen, jack, 10, 9.
Choosing trump
- First round. Starting with the player left of the dealer, each player either passes or orders the dealer to pick up the turned-up card. If someone orders it up, its suit becomes trump. The dealer adds the card to their hand and discards one card face down.
- Second round. If all four players pass, the card is turned face down. Going around again, players may name any other suit as trump, or pass.
- Stick the dealer. If the second round gets back to the dealer, the dealer must name trump. There are no redeals.
The team that chooses trump is called the makers. The other team is the defenders.
Going alone
When you choose trump you may decide to go alone. Your partner puts their cards down and sits the hand out, and you play against both opponents. Winning all five tricks alone scores 4 points.
Playing the hand
- The player left of the dealer leads the first trick (if that player is sitting out, the next player leads).
- Everyone must follow the suit that was led if they can. Remember that the left bower belongs to the trump suit.
- If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card, including trump.
- The highest trump wins the trick. If no trump was played, the highest card of the suit led wins. The winner leads the next trick.
Scoring
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Makers win 3 or 4 tricks | 1 point to the makers |
| Makers win all 5 tricks (a march) | 2 points to the makers |
| A lone player wins all 5 tricks | 4 points |
| Makers win fewer than 3 tricks (euchred) | 2 points to the defenders |
The deal passes to the left after every hand. Keeping score on paper? Use our printable Euchre score sheet.
Strategy tips
- Count your trumps when deciding. Two or three trumps, especially a bower, plus an off-suit ace is usually enough to order up.
- Think about who gets the turned-up card. Ordering it up to your partner when they deal gives your team an extra trump; ordering it to an opponent helps them.
- When your partner made trump, leading trump helps pull the opponents' trumps out.
- If your partner is already winning the trick, play a low card and save your strong ones.
- Keep track of who could not follow suit: that player has no cards of that suit left.
Frequently asked 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.
Card games have many house rules. This page describes the most common way Euchre is played, and the version you play on Card Sunday. Does your family play differently, or have you spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will check it.
