trick-taking · USA / UK / Canada / Australia
Euchre
Also known as Euker · Knock Euchre
Euchre is the fast, punchy partnership trick-taking game beloved across the US Midwest, Canada, the UK and Australia. Played with a slimmed-down 24-card deck, its signature twist is the bowers — the Jack of trump and the Jack of the same colour become the two most powerful cards. Play free in your browser against smart bots or with friends, no download or signup.
4–4 players · free · no download · no signup
How to play Euchre
- Look at your 5 cards and the turned-up card.
- Order up trump or pass; if all pass, name a suit (the dealer is stuck if everyone passes).
- Remember: the Jack of trump is highest, the same-colour Jack is second and is also trump.
- Win tricks — makers need at least 3.
- Score 1 (3–4 tricks), 2 (all 5), or get euchred (-/opponents +2). First to 10 wins.
Euchre rules
The deck & teams
Euchre uses 24 cards (9, 10, J, Q, K, A in each suit). Four players form two partnerships sitting across from each other. Each player gets 5 cards and one card is turned up to propose trump.
The bowers
When a suit is trump, the Jack of that suit is the 'right bower' — the single highest card. The Jack of the same colour (e.g. the J♣ when spades are trump) is the 'left bower', the second-highest card, and it counts as a trump, not as its printed suit.
Making trump
Starting left of the dealer, each player may 'order up' the turned card’s suit as trump or pass. If everyone passes, a second round lets players name a different suit. If all pass again, the dealer is 'stuck' and must name trump. The team that fixes trump are the 'makers'.
Play & scoring
Five tricks are played; follow suit if you can (remember the left bower is trump). The makers must win at least 3 tricks: 3–4 tricks score 1 point, all 5 ('a march') score 2. If the makers fail to win 3, the defenders 'euchre' them and score 2. First team to 10 points wins.
Strategy tips
- Count your trump including BOTH bowers before ordering up.
- With 3+ trump and a bower, order up confidently.
- Lead trump to draw out opponents’ trump when you’re strong.
- Save the right bower to capture the opponents’ left bower or aces.
- Don’t order up a weak hand — getting euchred hands the opponents 2 points.
Variants
Stick the dealer · Going alone · Canadian Loner · Buck Euchre · 25-card (with Joker)
Euchre — frequently asked questions
What are the bowers in Euchre?
The right bower is the Jack of the trump suit (highest card). The left bower is the Jack of the same colour, the second-highest card, and it counts as trump.
How many cards are in a Euchre deck?
24 cards — the 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each suit. (Some play with 25 using a Joker.)
What does it mean to euchre someone?
If the team that chose trump (the makers) fails to win at least 3 of the 5 tricks, they are 'euchred' and the opposing team scores 2 points.
Can I play Euchre free online?
Yes — Euchre is free to play in your browser at Love Card Games, versus smart bots or friends, no download or signup.