Revised: Winter 2020
**ANY DEVIATIONS TO THE RULES BELOW MUST BE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BEFORE STARTING PLAY**
EUCHRE is a card game that is played with a deck of 24 cards (9 through Ace in each suit).
The game is played with four (4) people that make up two (2) teams (partners sit across from one another). The object of the game is for a team to be the first to score ten (10) points. The winner of each match will be the team that wins the best two out of three games.
The game consists of hands of five (5) cards per player, and points are awarded to the team which gets at least 3 out of 5 tricks. A hand consists of three (3) events: Bidding, The Play, Scoring
Bidding
After dealing five (5) cards to each player, the 21st card is turned up and placed on the remaining three (3) cards. This is called the "upcard." This represents the initial choice for trump. At this point the bidding begins. Once a trump is chosen, the hand is played out. The team which takes at least 3 tricks scores pts & a new hand is dealt.
The first round of bidding - in the order of the deal, players may select the "upcard" as trump or pass. If any player chooses that trump and "calls it up", the dealer must pick up that card, then select & discard a card from her hand.
If bidding goes around without any player calling up the upcard, bidding continues around again and the players may select any other suit as trump or pass. If no player elects the trump the second round, the dealer must choose trump. This is called "hanging the dealer."
If a player believes s/he can take all five (5) tricks without any aid from his/her partner, s/he may elect to 'play it alone'. This is declared during the bidding. If the player takes all five tricks, the team scores four (4) points instead of two (2). If only 3 or 4 tricks are taken, only 1 point is scored. (See Scoring section below.)
The Play
Once the trump has been chosen, play begins and the team that called the trump must take at least three tricks. If they do not, they have been "Euchred" and the opposing team is awarded two (2) points.
Rules of Play
The lead suit must be followed, if possible. If a player cannot follow suit, s/he may play any card, including the trump suit, the highest card of which always wins the trick. Highest card played leads the next trick.
The Grand Order of Trump is as follows:
Jack of Trump
Jack of Sister Suit (same color as trump)
Ace, King, Queen 10, 9 of trump in order
Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9 of the led suit
Trump takes any other suit.
Scoring
In order to score points, a team must take at least three (3) tricks.
For the calling team:
3 - 4 tricks (1 point)
5 tricks (2 points) (0 points for 0 - 2 tricks)
For the Euchring team:
3 - 5 tricks (prevents the bidding team from making 3-5) (2 points)
(0 points for 0 - 2 tricks)
Player 'Alone':
5 tricks (4 points)
3 - 4 tricks (1 point)
