Euchre
Loading table…
How to play
Name trump, take tricks with your AI partner, and reach ten points.
- Choose the turned card or name a different trump suit.
- Right and left bowers are the highest trump cards.
- The makers need three tricks; taking all five alone adds four points.
How to Play Euchre
Euchre is a quick, casual trick-taking game for four players in two partnerships, using 24 cards from nine through ace in each suit. Each player starts with five cards, and the two highest cards are jacks called bowers.
The game opens in your browser with no registration or download. Your current match, settings, and statistics stay on your device between visits.
Starting Cards and Choosing Trump
Each player starts with five cards, and the next card is turned face up. In the first selection round, each player may choose that card’s suit as trump or pass. If everyone passes, players may name any other suit as trump in a second selection round.
This version uses a forced trump choice. If the second selection round reaches the final player, that player must name a trump suit. The partnership that chooses trump becomes the makers and needs at least three of the five tricks.
Bowers: the Two Highest Cards
The jack of the trump suit is the right bower and the highest card. The jack of the same colour is the left bower, the second highest, and it counts as a trump card for the whole round. If hearts are trump, the jack of diamonds counts as a heart, including when following suit.
Below the bowers, trump runs ace, king, queen, ten, nine. The other suits keep their normal order. The game tracks the left bower automatically so it can only be played with its trump suit.
Going Alone
When you choose trump with a strong set of cards, you may go alone. Your partner sits out that round while you play against two opponents. Taking all five tricks alone adds four points instead of two.
Scoring
The makers add one point for taking three or four tricks and two points for taking all five, called a march. A lone player who takes all five adds four points. If the makers take fewer than three tricks, the defending team adds two points. The first team to reach 10 points wins the match.
Basic Strategy
Count likely trump tricks before choosing a suit. Three strong trump cards, or two plus an outside ace, can form a solid start. Also consider whether selecting the turned card gives an opponent another trump card.
Lead trump when your partnership selected it to draw out opposing trump cards. Avoid leading trump when defending unless it supports a clear plan. Remember that the left bower makes its printed suit one card shorter.
Euchre Questions
What are the right and left bowers?
The right bower is the jack of the trump suit and the highest card. The left bower is the other jack of the same colour, ranks second, and counts as trump for the whole round.
Why could I not follow suit with a jack I hold?
If that jack is the left bower, it belongs to the trump suit for this round rather than its printed suit. The game applies this automatically.
What does going alone do?
Your partner sits out and you play against two opponents. Taking all five tricks alone adds four points instead of two.
What does it mean to get euchred?
The makers took fewer than three tricks, so the defending team adds two points.
What is the forced trump choice?
If everyone passes through both selection rounds, the final player must name a trump suit and play continues.