Selecting the First Dealer
For the most part, a starting dealer is selected at random. Tradition
legislates that cards are to be dealt one at a time to each player. The
first player to receive a jack (or sometimes specifically a black jack)
is the first dealer. Tradition, however, has no guidelines on who deals
the cards which determine the first dealer. Regardless, how the first dealer
is selected is not as vital as understanding the value of being the dealer.
It is a position of power, so choose your method wisely. After the game
has begun, the privilege of the deal moves from player to player clockwise.
Dealing
The gentleman's game rules that it is polite to offer the player
to the dealer's right an opportunity to cut the deck. This player has the
option to cut or "bump" (signify that they are declining to cut by tapping on the deck once).
In less polite games (often signified by the presence of beer cans and
cigar smoke), the dealer shuffles and deals. Be sure to become knowledgeable
of the etiquette of your table regarding this. Actual dealing of the cards can
be done in a number of ways, so long
as each player receives 5 cards. The distribution of 2 cards each the first
time around and three cards the next or vice-versa is traditional. Some
tables deal the cards one at a time, which to me is more work. Well, to
each his own. I have even heard of players dealing 3 to the left, 2 across, 3 to the right,
2 to themself, then the opposite the next time around. Dealing all 5 cards at one time, however, is a no-no.
The cards left after all players have received their hands are collectively called the Kitty. Setting
the Kitty down, the dealer turns up the top card, which coincidentally is called the Turned-
Up Card. Go figure. This is when the first round of bidding begins.
Bidding
The player to the
dealer's left decides whether or not they think they can take 3 tricks with the suit of the
Turned-Up Card being trump. If not, they pass by saying "pass" (some rules are easier to
remember than others). The next player clockwise does the same, and so on. If the dealer
passes, the first round of bidding is concluded. Now, let's stop here for a moment. We'll
get to the second round in a second. Some Euchre circles feel that the exact exchange of
phrase is trivial while other more serious tables follow it religiously. It's best to find
out what the tone of the table is before starting the game. This will keep a friendly game
from turning into an awkward and uncomfortable situation in record time (and in some cases
prevent you from becoming the center of a hazing ritual). With that said, let's go through
the terminology used in bidding in the first round. The following phrases are used when a
player decides to call out that they feel they can take at least three tricks with the
Turned-Up Card being trump (called "Making [the Turned-Up Card] Trump"). The opponents of
the dealer (the first and third to bid in a round) can make the Turned-Up Card trump by
saying "I order it up", or any of an assortment of variation thereof depending on the
tone of the table. The dealer's partner may make the Turned-Up Card trump by saying
"I assist" or, with the Canadian Loner rule in effect, "I turn it down". Again the exact wording will be governed
by the table's tone. If the first 3 players pass, the dealer can make trump by saying
"I take it up" in the appropriate manner. If the dealer passes, they may say "over" (an
indication that the bidding is to start over) if they just don't feel like saying "pass".
If any player makes trump in the first hand, the dealer picks up the Turned-Up Card in
substitution for any other card from their hand. As mentioned before, Dealer is a position
of power. Now you know why. The bidding ends as soon as any player makes trump. If no one
makes trump in the first round, there is a second round of bidding, as mentioned before.
The second round affords each of the players, in the same order as the first round, the
opportunity to make any suit, except that of the Turned-Up Card, trump. The verbiage in
this round is much less complicated than the first as any player can say either "pass"
to pass or "I make ________ trump" to make a suit trump. As soon as a player makes a
suit trump in the second round, the bidding ends and all players play with only the cards
they were dealt (no card swapping for the dealer). If all players pass in the second round,
it is called a "pass out" (I know what you're thinking and, No, it has nothing to do with
that kind of "passing out". That comes later). All players throw their cards in and the
next dealer in the rotation starts a new hand. One bidding option that hasn't been mentioned
yet is when a player decides to "go alone" which is conveniently announced by using the
phrase "I go alone". Other phrases which can be used, depending on the tone, are "I'll shoot"
or (directed to the trumpmaker's partner) "Stay home". When a player goes alone, it means
they have been dealt an exceptional hand and they feel they can win the points single-handed,
literally. When a player goes alone, their partner sets their hand on the table, face down
and the hand is played between only the trumpmaker and their opponents.
Variations
lists a few game options regarding this method of play. The reason behind going alone lies
in the scoring. If the lone trumpmaker wins 3 or 4 tricks, they score as they normally would.
If, however, they take all 5 tricks, they get double the points that they would from a normal
march! This strategy can easily turn a blow-out into a barn-burner.
Playing the Hand
Now we'll cover the meat and potatoes of the game. This takes an minute
to learn and an eternity to master. There are only seven basic concepts (or rules if you will)
to playing a Euchre hand.
1 - Upon the completion of the bidding, the player to the dealer's left leads off the first
trick. If the player to the left of the dealer is sitting out ("staying home"), the next
player in the rotation leads the first trick.
2 - Each trick consists of one card being played by each player.
3 - When leading off in a trick, any card may be played.
4 - Subsequent players must follow the (play a card of the same) suit lead when possible.
If a player cannot follow suit, they may play any card.
5 - Whoever takes the trick leads off the next.
6 - Tricks are taken according to the Hierarchy of Cards shown below. The highest ranked card
in the trick takes the trick.
7 - Try to take 3 or more tricks each hand.
That's about all there is to gameplay. Simple, eh? What isn't so simple is the strategy
behind playing your hand. As I eluded to before, this is something that can take years to
"perfect" (if that's even possible). Check out the Strategies section for tips, both
for beginners and advanced players. One other thing. Since the dawn of Euchre, players have
occasionally (and in some cases persistently) broken rule #4 above. Playing a card out of
suit when you are capable of following suit is called
Reneging (pronounced re nig' ing). Some theorize that such an event may have triggered the
Los Angeles Riots some years back. Possibly because it's cheating, or possibly because one
player calling another a Reneger could be construed as a racial slur. Either way, to be on
the safe side, it's best to consider reneging a big no-no. If caught in the act, it will
cost your team points. Traditionally, the opposing team would receive 2 points but the
penalty is subject to the house rules.
Hierarchy of Cards
I could fill my entire allocated web site space with examples and
explanations of the hierarchy of cards in Euchre, but instead I am going
to attempt to keep this simple. Anyone who knows anything about the concept
of "trump" and "bowers" probably already has a pretty good handle on the
hierarchy of cards in this game as it is the same in several other card
games. If not, here is a table that explains the concept fairly clearly.
|
Dominance
|
Card Played
|
Example with Spades Trump, Hearts lead
|
|
1 (Highest)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19 (Lowest)
|
Right Bower
Left Bower
Ace of Trump
King of Trump
Queen of Trump
10 of Trump
9 of Trump
Ace of NT Lead Suit
King of NT Lead Suit
Queen of NT Lead Suit
Jack of NT Lead Suit
10 of NT Lead Suit
9 of NT Lead Suit
Ace of NT Non-Lead Suit
King of NT Non-Lead Suit
Queen of NT Non-Lead Suit
Jack of NT Non-Lead Suit
10 of NT Non-Lead Suit
9 of NT Non-Lead Suit
|
Jack of Spades
Jack of Clubs
Ace of Spades
King of Spades
Queen of Spades
10 of Spades
9 of Spades
Ace of Hearts
King of Hearts
Queen of Hearts
Jack of Hearts
10 of Hearts
9 of Hearts
Ace of Clubs/Diamonds
King of Clubs/Diamonds
Queen of Clubs/Diamonds
Jack of Diamonds
10 of Clubs/Diamonds
9 of Clubs/Diamonds
|
A few notes regarding this guide chart: A right bower is defined as
the Jack of the suit made trump. A left bower conversely is the Jack of
the same color, but different suit than the trump suit. As above, if the
Jack of Spades is the right bower, the left bower is the Jack of Clubs
(same color, different suit). NT above stands for non-trump (also called "off-suit")
which, in our example, is hearts, clubs and diamonds. Lead suit (No, it's not a strange
new metallic line of men's wear.) means the suit first thrown in a particular
trick. In the example above, this is ANY heart. Non-lead Suit means the
remaining 3 suits opposite that of the lead suit (should I really have
to have said that?). Finally, in the example, there is only one card ranked
17th where the others below 14th were either clubs or diamonds. To explain
this: remember the definition of left bower? That's why.
If there is anyone still reading this section, my work must not be
done. To remedy this, let's take a quiz. Now, no cheating by sliding up
to the table during this! Ready?
The Question
We come into a room where Tom, Dick, Harry and Quigley (visiting from
"down under") are playing a game of Euchre. In this particular hand, spades
were made trump. On the third trick, Tom leads off with the Queen of Hearts.
Dick follows him by putting down the Ace of Diamonds. Harry, with a flip
of the wrist, tosses down the Ace of Spades. Finally, Quigley, after taking
a liberal swig of his Foster's beer, throws the Jack of Clubs. At the beginning
of this trick we assume that Tom is the only player holding hearts, so
no one is cheating. Who takes the trick? Click here for
the answer.