Euchre

Quick Rules

Euchre is a fast partnership card game for four. You and North (a computer partner sitting across from you) play against West and East. It uses only 24 cards: the 9, 10, jack, queen, king and ace of each suit. Everyone gets 5 cards, and the next card is turned face up.

  • Choose trump, round 1. Starting left of the dealer, each player may order it up (make the turned-up card's suit trump) or pass. If someone orders it up, the dealer takes that card and puts one card away.
  • Round 2. If all four pass, each player may name a different suit as trump, or pass. Here the dealer must name one if everyone else passes (stick the dealer).
  • The bowers. The jack of trump (the right bower) is the highest card. The other jack of the same colour (the left bower) is next, and it counts as a trump. Then come the ace, king, queen, 10 and 9 of trump.
  • Play. The player left of the dealer leads. Follow suit if you can; otherwise play any card. The highest trump wins, or the highest card of the suit led.
  • Scoring. The side that called trump scores 1 point for 3 or 4 tricks and 2 points for all 5. If they take fewer than 3 they are euchred and the other side scores 2.
  • Going alone. Whoever calls trump may play without their partner. Taking all 5 tricks alone scores 4 points.
  • Winning. The first side to 10 points wins.

Play differently at home? Open Settings to play to 5, 7 or 11, turn off stick the dealer, or add the Canadian loner and "no ace, no face" rules. See Euchre rule variations for what each one changes.

Read the full Euchre rules with examples and a scoring table

Tips for Winning at Euchre

  • Count on your partner for one trick. If your hand looks good for two tricks, calling trump is usually right.
  • Mind who gets the turned-up card. Ordering up a jack to an opponent who is dealing hands them a bower.
  • Lead trump when you called it. Pull the other side's trumps so your aces can win later.
  • Don't trump your partner's winner. If North is already taking the trick, throw your lowest card.
  • Remember the left bower. It is a trump this hand, not a card of its printed suit.

Read our Euchre strategy guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Euchre game free?

Yes. You can play as many games of Euchre as you like for free, with no account, no email and no download.

Does the computer cheat?

No. The computer players, including your partner, can't see anyone else's cards or the cards left in the kitty. They know their own cards, the turned-up card, the bidding and every card played so far, the same as you. At the end of every hand, tap Show All Hands to see what everyone was dealt. Every game has a deal number; tap Replay This Deal, or type the number in Settings, to play the same cards again.

What is the left bower?

The left bower is the jack of the same colour as trump. If spades are trump, the jack of clubs is the left bower. For that hand it stops being a club: it is the second-highest trump and counts as a spade when you follow suit. Our game puts a Left bower label on the card and says so in the status box.

What does order it up mean?

After the deal one card is turned face up. Ordering it up means you choose that card's suit as trump. The dealer then adds the turned-up card to their hand and puts one card away face down. Your side has called trump and needs at least three of the five tricks.

What does going alone mean?

When you call trump you may go alone: your partner puts their cards down and sits out the hand. If you take all five tricks by yourself your side scores 4 points instead of 2. Three or four tricks still score 1 point, and fewer than three means you are euchred.

What is stick the dealer?

It is a popular house rule: if all four players pass in both rounds of bidding, the dealer must name a trump suit instead of throwing the cards in. It is on by default here. You can turn it off in Settings under House rules.

Does the game save my progress?

Yes. Your game is saved in your browser after every bid and card. Close the page and come back later, and you can pick up where you left off on the same device.

Enjoy partnership card games? Try Spades, where you bid the number of tricks you will take, or Hearts, where every player is on their own.

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