Euchre strategy
Euchre is a partnership game with only five tricks, so every card counts. These tips will help you beat the computer on medium and hard.
1. Count your sure tricks before you call
Your team needs 3 tricks. A bower, the ace of trump and an off-suit ace are close to two sure tricks, and your partner usually adds one. Three trumps with a bower is a good start too.
2. Mind who gets the up card
If you order up, the dealer picks up the card. When the dealer is your opponent, you hand them a trump. When the dealer is your partner, the up card helps your team.
3. “Next” in round two
When the dealer turns down a suit, the other suit of the same color (called next) is often a good choice for the player to the dealer’s left, because the dealer’s team has shown no interest in that color. The opposite color is called crossing.
4. Lead trump when your team called it
If you or your partner made trump and you hold the right bower or several trumps, lead trump to pull the opponents’ trumps out. Then your aces are safe.
5. Don’t trump your partner’s winner
If your partner’s card is already winning the trick, play your lowest card. Save your trumps for tricks your team would lose.
6. As a defender, lead your aces
Off-suit aces win early, before the makers run out of a suit and trump them. Don’t lead trump into the makers unless you have a plan.
7. Remember what has gone
Keep track of the bowers and the ace of trump. Once they are played, your king of trump may be the highest card left.
8. Going alone
Go alone when your hand can take all five tricks without help: both bowers and the ace of trump with another trump or off ace is a classic “lay-down” loner. A lone march scores 4 instead of 2.
Practice
Play on Hard and press Hint to compare your choice with the computer’s. Under Settings you can also show all cards to see how a hand works out.
Questions
When should you order up in euchre?
A common guide is to order up with three trumps including a bower, or two high trumps and an off-suit ace. Think about who gets the up card: ordering up gives it to the dealer.
When should you go alone?
With a hand that can take all five tricks by itself, such as both bowers and the ace of trump plus another winner, especially when you lead first.