In the 5-point game, a side is said to be 'at the bridge' when it has scored 4 and the opponents have scored 2 or less.Īn elegant and widespread method of keeping score is with cards lower than those used in play. The first player or partnership to score 5, 7 or 10 points, as agreed beforehand, wins the game. Partnership or lone hand is euchred, opponents score 2 points Partnership making trump wins 5 tricks – 2 points Partnership making trump wins 3 or 4 tricks – 1 point The following shows all scoring situations: If a joker has been added to the pack, it acts as the highest trump.

The highest trump is the jack of the trump suit, called the 'right bower.' The second-highest trump is the jack of the other suit of the same color called the 'left bower.' (Example: If diamonds are trumps, the right bower is J♦ and left bower is J♥.) The remaining trumps, and also the plain suits, rank as follows: A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7. If the side that fixed the trump fails to get three tricks, it is said to be 'euchred.' Winning all five tricks is called a 'march.' Rank of Cards The goal is to win at least three tricks. Special Euchre decks are available, or the standard 52-card pack can be stripped to make a deck of 32 cards (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 of each suit), 28 cards (7s omitted), or 24 cards (7s and 8s omitted). Therefore, the rules for the four-hand version are given first. The game is best for four participants, playing two against two as partners. Although later eclipsed by Bridge (as with so many other games of this type), Euchre is still well known in America and is an excellent social game.

Euchre (and its variations) is the reason why modern card decks were first packaged with jokers, a card originally designed to act as the right and left 'bowers' (high trumps).

How to play euchre online with friends