Most asked questions about Euchre

If you are new to Euchre, you’ve just clicked on the right article. We tried our best to summarize all the fundamentals you may need to know. Information is in the format of questions and answers for more convenience.

We will explain basic things, from the definition of Euchre to some details about playing and scoring. Sure, knowing the complete rules is a must. But if you feel a little bit overwhelmed and want more clarification on certain topics, we are happy to help.

Here are the answers to the top 10 most asked questions about Euchre.

1. What is Euchre?

2. How many people can play?

Usually, the game is played by 4 people. But there are other variations for 2 to 6 players.

3. What cards are used?

Euchre is played with a 24-card deck. There are 4 typical suits (clubs, spades, diamonds, hearts), each of 6 cards. Cards are ranked as follows (from low to high): 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace. The exception to that rule is the trump suit. The highest-ranked card of the trumps is the Jack. After that is the Jack of the same color as the trump suit.

You can also add 7s and 8s and play with a 32-card deck.

4. Can you play Euchre with jokers?

Yes, a joker is added to the deck of cards in the British Euchre variant. The Joker is part of the trump suit and is the card with the highest rank.

5. What is a farmer’s hand?

Each player gets 5 cards at the beginning of the round. Farmer’s hand would be only of 9s and 10s. There are several options if that happens, depending on the Euchre variation. In general, you can ask for a “misdeal”, so the round won’t be played. The game will move on to the next dealer.

6. What does it mean to go under?

If you have three 9s or three 10s in your hand, you can ask to exchange these cards with the three face-down cards from the kitty. This is called to go under.

There is a variation called “Ace No Face“. You must have an Ace in your hand to exchange the three weak cards.

Other common Euchre terms.

7. How to bid in Euchre?

There are possible 2 rounds of bidding. In the first round, players have to decide to make the face-up card trump suit or pass. If no one makes trump, there is a second round of bidding. Players are free to choose any of the suits as trump. The bidding ends with someone choosing trump.

8. What does it mean to go alone?

If you make trump, you can decide to go alone and play without your partner. This is a strategy to score more points. In some variations, everyone can go alone.

9. What is a bower in Euchre?

Jack of the trump suit is called the Right Bower. The other Jack of the same color as the trump suit is the Left Bower.

In the British Euchre, the Joker is known as the Best Bower (or simply Benny).

10. Can you lead with trump?

Yes, you can. Unlike some other card games (Spades, Hearts), there is no specific condition to lead with a trump card.

Practicing is always a big part of the learning process. So playing more often most definitely will have a positive impact on your skill level. Create your account for free and start playing Euchre.