Euchre

Each hand deals five cards and turns an upcard. Seats may order that suit as trump or pass; if the upcard is rejected, someone names another suit. Then five tricks decide whether the makers score — or get euchred. The seat left of the dealer leads the first trick, unless that player is sitting out on a loner — then the next active seat leads.

For setup, Stick the Dealer, and follow-suit with bowers, read the full Euchre rules.

The Right Bower is the Jack of the trump suit. It is the highest card in the hand. The Left Bower is the other Jack of the same color as trump. It ranks second, counts as trump, and follows trump for suit — not its printed suit.

When hearts are trump, J♥ is Right Bower and J♦ becomes Left Bower — treated as a heart for the hand. That suit-change is the detail most beginners miss.

Suit-by-suit charts and a follow-suit example live on the Left Bower and Right Bower page.

Round one starts left of the dealer: order the upcard's suit or pass. If ordered, the dealer takes the upcard and discards one card — that suit is trump. Round two turns the upcard down; seats name any other suit. On Classic Deck Games the dealer must name trump if everyone else passes — a Stick the Dealer house rule.

When you order or name, you may go alone; your partner sits out for the hand.

Full examples and match play are in the Euchre scoring guide.

Strong tables count the seven trump cards, call with seat position in mind, and save loners for hands that do not need a partner. Euchre strategy covers Next, leading trump, and defending alone marches.

• Euchre rules

  Setup, trump calling, Stick the Dealer, and how tricks are won.

• Left Bower and Right Bower

  Trump rankings for every suit, with follow-suit examples.

• Euchre scoring

  Points for makers, marches, euchres, and loners.

• Euchre strategy

  When to call trump, count bowers, and go alone.

• Spades — Another partnership trick-taker with fixed trump — longer hands and a bidding contract instead of ordering an upcard.
• Hearts — Four-player tricks without teams: avoid point cards and shoot the moon when the table allows it.

Can I play Euchre online for free?

Yes. Classic Deck Games Euchre runs in your browser with no account, download, or payment.

Can I play Euchre against the computer?

Yes. You play with Miles as your partner against Clara and Quinn — three computer seats at a four-player table.

How many cards are used in Euchre?

This site uses a 24-card deck: the 9 through Ace of each suit. Each player receives five cards per hand.

What is the Left Bower?

The Left Bower is the other Jack of the same color as trump. It ranks second, counts as trump, and follows trump for suit — not its printed suit.

How do you win a Euchre game?

The first team to reach 10 points wins the match. Hands score 1, 2, or 4 points depending on tricks and whether someone went alone.

What does getting euchred mean?

The makers are euchred when they take fewer than three tricks. The defending team scores 2 points.

Can you go alone in Euchre?

Yes. When you order up or name trump you may check Alone. Your partner sits out; take all five tricks alone for 4 points, or take three or four for the usual 1 point.