Euchre variants

The four-player partnership game is the standard, but euchre works for other groups too. Our game plays the American rules, British euchre and stick the dealer; the others are here for playing at home.

Stick the dealer

If all four pass in round one and the first three pass in round two, the dealer must name a trump suit (not the turned-down suit). No hand is ever thrown in, which makes games faster. Turn it on under Settings in our game. Source: Pagat.com.

3-handed euchre

• Each player plays for themselves and keeps their own score, to 10.
• Deal 7 cards each from the 24-card deck; 3 cards are left, and the top one is turned up.
• The player who makes trump plays against the other two, who also compete with each other.
• The maker scores 1 point for 4 or 5 tricks, 2 for 6 tricks and 4 for all 7.
• If the maker takes fewer than 4, they are euchred: the defender with the most tricks scores 2 (1 each if they tie).

Source: Wikipedia. Groups also play “cutthroat” bidding versions.

2-handed euchre

• Use the 24-card deck and deal 5 cards each. Turn up the next card; the other 13 are not used.
• Make trump in the same two rounds: the non-dealer speaks first, then the dealer. Whoever accepts the up card’s suit, the dealer picks it up and discards.
• The non-dealer leads to the first trick.
• 1 point for 3 or 4 tricks, 2 for all five, and 2 to the opponent if the caller is euchred. There is no going alone. First to 10 wins.

This is the simplest common version. Some pairs add face-down “dummy” cards to use more of the deck.

Bid euchre

Bid euchre (also called auction euchre or pepper) replaces the up card with an auction. In the common 6-card version:

• All 24 cards are dealt, 6 to each player. There is no kitty.
• Each player bids once, from the dealer’s left, the number of tricks their team will take, or passes. The minimum bid is 3. The dealer may match the highest bid.
• The high bidder names trump, or no trump (high, or low where 9s are highest).
• If the bidding team makes its bid, each team scores 1 point per trick it won. If not, the bidders lose the number they bid. Games are often to 32.

There is no single standard; see Pagat.com’s bid euchre page for double-deck versions.

Other house rules

• 32-card euchre with the 7s and 8s.
• Super euchre: makers who take no tricks give up 4 points.
• Farmer’s hand: a hand of only 9s and 10s may swap cards with the kitty.