Euchre

How to play Euchre

Euchre is for four players in two sides: you and North, your partner, against West and East. All three others are computer players. It uses 24 cards, the 9s up to the Aces. The first side to 10 points wins.

• Everyone gets five cards and the next card is turned up. Starting at the dealer's left, each player can pass or order up that card. Ordering it up makes its suit trump, and the dealer adds it to their hand and discards one card.
• If all four pass, the card is turned down. Going round again, each player can name any other suit as trump, or pass. If everyone passes a second time, the hand is thrown in and the next player deals.
• The Jack of trump is the highest card (the right bower). The other Jack of the same colour comes next (the left bower) and counts as a trump. Then come the Ace, King, Queen, 10 and 9 of trump.
• The player at the dealer's left leads the first trick. Follow the suit that was led if you can; if you can't, play any card. The highest trump wins the trick, or the highest card of the suit led if no trump was played.
• The side that chose trump needs at least three of the five tricks. Three or four score 1 point; all five score 2. Fewer than three and they are euchred: the other side scores 2.
• The player who chooses trump can go alone. Their partner sits out, and taking all five tricks alone scores 4.
• To choose trump, use the buttons under your hand. To play, tap a card. Cards you can't play now are dimmed.

Tips

• Count your trumps if the turned-up suit were trump. Two bowers, or three trumps with an off-suit Ace, is usually worth ordering up.
• Ordering up gives the dealer the turned-up card. Be wary of handing a Jack to the other side, and keener when your partner is the dealer.
• When your partner is already winning a trick, save your high cards and play low.

Keyboard

Tab moves between your cards and the buttons. Enter or Space plays a card. H shows a hint.