How to Play Euchre

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How to Play Euchre
By LearnPlayWin, Updated 23 May 2010

This page gives the rules for the Canadian version of Euchre, as played in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city in central Canada.

Number of Players

Euchre is played by 4 players, 2 sets of partners. Partners sit opposite each other at the table.

Object of the Game

The object is to win more tricks than your opponent.

Dealing the Cards

You only use the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, and 9 of each suit. That is 24 cards in total.

Deal 5 cards to each player. The player who deals first may be decided informally (ie "you go ahead and deal first") or you can cut to determine the dealer.

Place the remaining 4 cards on the table. Turn up the top card. That is the trump suit. The other 3 cards are not used.

Card Rank

Cards rank as follows:

2 of spades
Jack of trump suit
Jack the same color as trump suit
Ace
King
Queen
Jacks NOT the same color as the trump suit
Ten
Nine

Note that the Jack that is the same color as the trump suit is considered as part of the trump suit and must be played as such.

Playing the Game

The player to the dealer's left goes first. He or she can lead any card. Play moves clockwise. Each player must play a card from the suit that was led, if possible. If they can't, they can play any card.

Whoever plays the highest ranking card of the suit that was led takes the trick, unless someone plays the trump suit. In that case, the highest ranking card from the trump suit takes the trick.

Whoever wins the trick leads next.

Going Alone

After the trump card has been revealed, but before any cards have been played, a player from either or both partnerships may choose to "go alone" and play without their partner. In this case the non-playing partner (or partners) simply places their cards face down and sits out the hand.

Scoring

Scoring is as follows:

If a partnership wins all 5 tricks they score 2 points.

If they win 3 or 4 tricks they score 1 point.

First team to achieve 10 points wins.

Variations

One game variation that adds complexity to the game allows the players to determine the trump suit. After the cards have been dealt and one card revealed, the player to the dealer's left has the option to accept the trump suit or pass. If all players pass, the dealer must name a trump suit. The team that accepts (or names) the trump suit takes on added risk. If the other partnership wins more tricks, they score double.

Video Rules Explanation

Here's a video that explains how to play Euchre. Note that the host describes a slightly different version of the game.