House rules
How to play Euchre
Four seats, two teams, five tricks per hand. You and your invited partner play North and South against the computer team.
The deck & deal
The game uses 24 cards: 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace in all four suits. Each player receives five cards. The next card is turned face up. The deal moves clockwise after every hand.
Calling trump
Starting left of the dealer, each player may pass or order up the turned suit. If ordered, the dealer takes the turned card and discards one. If all four pass, players get a second chance to name any other suit. If the first three pass again, the dealer must choose—“stick the dealer.” The caller’s team becomes the makers.
Only the player who calls trump may choose to go alone. Their partner sits out for that hand.
The bowers
The Jack of trump is the highest card (the Right Bower). The Jack of the same color is second-highest (the Left Bower) and counts as trump for every purpose, including following suit. Trump ranks: Right, Left, Ace, King, Queen, 10, 9.
Playing tricks
The player left of the dealer leads first. Players must follow the effective suit led when able. Otherwise they may play any card. The highest trump wins; if no trump is played, the highest card of the led suit wins. The trick winner leads next.
Scoring
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Makers take 3 or 4 tricks | 1 to makers |
| Makers sweep all 5 tricks | 2 to makers |
| Lone maker sweeps all 5 | 4 to makers |
| Defenders take 3 or more (a euchre) | 2 to defenders |
The first team to 10 points wins. No win-by-two is required.