How to Play Euchre

Overview

Euchre is a fast-paced trick-taking card game for 4 players in 2 teams. Partners sit across from each other. The first team to 10 points wins.

The Deck

Euchre uses 24 cards: 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace in each of the four suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades). Each player is dealt 5 cards.

Trump Selection

After dealing, one card is turned face-up. Players take turns deciding if that card's suit should be trump:

• Round 1: Each player can “order up” the turned-up suit (the dealer picks up the card and discards one) or pass.
• Round 2: If everyone passes, each player can name a different suit as trump, or pass.
• Stick the Dealer: If it gets back to the dealer in round 2, they must choose a suit — no passing allowed.

Card Ranking

Trump cards beat all other suits. Within trump, the ranking from highest to lowest is:

1. Right Bower — Jack of the trump suit (highest card in the game)
2. Left Bower — Jack of the same color as trump (e.g., if hearts is trump, the Jack of diamonds is the left bower). This card is considered part of the trump suit.
3. Ace, King, Queen, 10, 9 of trump

For non-trump suits, ranking is: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9 (standard order).

Playing Tricks

• The player to the left of the dealer leads the first trick.
• Players must follow suit if they can. If they can't, they may play any card.
• The highest trump wins the trick. If no trump is played, the highest card of the led suit wins.
• The trick winner leads the next trick.
• Each hand has 5 tricks.

Going Alone

When calling trump, a player can choose to “go alone” — their partner sits out and they play all 5 tricks by themselves. If they win all 5 tricks, their team earns 4 points instead of the usual 2.

Scoring

Winning

The first team to reach 10 points wins the game. The dealer rotates clockwise each hand.