Euchre at a glance
With five cards per player, Euchre reaches the important decisions quickly. Choose trump, read your partner’s contribution, and decide whether your hand can play alone. The two bowers give trump its unusual ranking.
- Players
- 4 · Two teams
- Deck
- 24 cards · 9 through Ace
- Hand
- 5 cards each
- Target
- 10 points
How to play Euchre online
Play free in your browser, with no download or account required. Choose the kind of table you want to join.
Practice with computers
Choose Play with computers and a pace: Relaxed, Friendly, or Quick. Use Hint when you need help finding a move.
Invite your friends
Choose Invite friends and share Copy invite or the room code. Friends join through Have an invite? The host can fill empty seats with computers.
Find an online opponent
Choose Find online players to look for other people. If no matching players are available, you can practice with computers instead.
Computer games also need an internet connection. The table handles dealing, legal moves, and scoring. These rules describe the version played here; other tables may use different house rules.
Rules of Euchre
Deal and first round of bidding
A twenty-four-card deck uses nines through aces. Deal five per player, then expose an up-card. Starting left of the dealer, order its suit as trump or pass.
Choosing trump
If ordered up, the dealer takes that card and discards one. If all pass, choose a different suit in a second round. The dealer must choose if everyone else passes again.
Bowers and following suit
The trump jack is highest; the same-color jack is second and belongs to the trump suit. Then come ace, king, queen, ten and nine. Follow the effective suit when possible.
Scoring and winning
Scoring and going alone
Callers may go alone, leaving their partner out. Taking three or four tricks scores one; all five scores two, or four alone. If the callers fail, defenders score two. First to ten wins.
How to get better at Euchre
Find the left bower
The jack of the other suit of the same color belongs to trump. Count it as trump when judging your hand and the cards still out.
Look for a third trick
Strong trump helps, but a side-suit ace may supply the extra trick your partnership needs to make the contract.
Save a stopper
A well-timed trump on defense can prevent a sweep. Watch your partner’s play before committing your strongest card.
Choose lone hands carefully
The large bonus needs all five tricks. Consider whether every side suit is covered before leaving your partner out.
Frequently asked questions
Which jack is the left bower?
It is the jack of the non-trump suit with the same color as trump. With hearts as trump, the jack of diamonds becomes the second-highest trump.
What if everyone passes twice?
This table makes the dealer choose trump in the second round if everyone else passes again.
How much is a lone sweep worth?
A lone caller earns four points for all five tricks. Taking three or four tricks still earns one.
What does getting euchred mean?
The calling side failed to take three tricks. The defending partnership receives two points.
Can I play Euchre against computers?
Yes. Choose Play with computers at the table and select a computer pace. Private tables can also mix friends with computers. An internet connection is required.
How do I invite friends to Euchre?
Choose Invite friends, then use Copy invite in the waiting room. Friends can open that link or enter the room code in Have an invite? The host can fill empty seats with computers.
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