How to Play Euchre

A Simple Beginner Guide

Euchre is a fast, fun card game played with 4 players in teams of two. The first team to reach 10 points wins.

What You Need

  • 4 players (2 teams of 2)

  • A 24-card deck (9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace)

  • Your Euchre scoreboard

Partners sit across from each other:

Step 1: Deal the Cards

  • Each player gets 5 cards

  • The dealer turns 1 card face up

  • Players decide if they want that suit to be Trump

What Is Trump?

Trump is the most powerful suit for that hand.

When a suit becomes trump, the ranking changes.

Trump Ranking (Highest to Lowest)

  1. Right Bower (Jack of Trump suit)

  2. Left Bower (Jack of same color as Trump)

  3. Ace

  4. King

  5. Queen

  6. 10

  7. 9

Example:
If Hearts ❤️ is trump:

  • Jack of Hearts = Highest card

  • Jack of Diamonds = Second highest (same color)

Step 2: Choosing Trump

Starting left of the dealer:

  • Players can say "Order it up" (make that suit trump)

  • Or say "Pass"

If everyone passes, players can choose a different suit.

The team that chooses trump is called the Makers.

Step 3: Playing the Hand

  • The player left of the dealer plays first.

  • Everyone must follow the suit played (if possible).

  • If you cannot follow suit, you may play a trump card.

  • Highest card wins the trick.

  • Winner of the trick leads the next one.

  • There are 5 tricks per hand.

How Scoring Works

After all 5 tricks are played:

If the Makers win:

  • 3 or 4 tricks → 1 point

  • All 5 tricks → 2 points

If the Makers win fewer than 3 tricks:

  • They are Euchred

  • Other team gets 2 points

If someone goes alone and wins all 5:

  • 4 points

First team to 10 points wins the game.

How To Use Your Euchre Scoreboard

Your scoreboard makes scoring easy and clear.

1️⃣ Set the Trump Suit

At the top of the board are 4 suit holes:

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

Place your peg in the suit chosen as trump for that hand.

2️⃣ Keep Track of Points

Each team has its own scoring column:

Team 1 Team 2

0 0

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

7 7

8 8

9 9

10 ← Win!

Move your peg up:

  • 1 hole per point earned

  • First team to reach 10 wins

Beginner Tips

✔ Trump cards are powerful — save them wisely
✔ The two Jacks of trump color are the strongest cards
✔ Pay attention to what cards have already been played
✔ Work with your partner — without speaking

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