Euchre

Euchre is a trick-taking card game for four players in two teams, and this page offers it as a free euchre card game that runs in your browser. You sit at the bottom of the table as South, with your partner North across from you and the computer players West and East as opponents.

There is no download and no account, so you can start a match straight away. You can play to 10 or to 5 points, and the page remembers your settings and your record of matches won on this device. The status line names every call and card, and a Rules button opens a short summary of the rules.

How to play euchre online

Use the table at the top of the page and follow these steps.

1. Check the toolbar. Set Stick the dealer to on or off, and Game to to 10 or 5. Changing either option starts a new match.
2. Look at your hand, the row of cards at the bottom. Once trump is chosen, trump cards sort first. Right and left bowers have a small gold “R” or “L” badge.
3. When it is your turn during calling, press Order up or Pick up (if you are the dealer), or press Pass. In round 2, press a Name button for a suit, or Pass.
4. To go alone, switch Go alone to on before you press Order up, Pick up or Name.
5. If you are the dealer and your pick-up is confirmed, tap any card in your hand to discard it.
6. When you are leading or following, click or tap a highlighted card. Dimmed cards cannot be played.
7. Read the status line after each action. After each hand, read the score dialog and press Deal next hand.
8. Press Hint to see the suggested button or card. Press Rules to open the rules panel, and Close to hide it.

For keyboard play, click or Tab to focus the table. Use Left and Right to move the highlight, Enter or Space to choose it, P to pass, A to toggle Go alone, H for a hint, N for a new game, F for fullscreen and Esc to close a dialog.

How to play euchre

Euchre is played by four players in two teams: you and North against West and East. The deck has 24 cards, the 9, 10, J, Q, K and A of each suit. Each player gets five cards, and the next card is turned face up as the upcard.

Calling starts with the player left of the dealer. In round 1, each player may order up the upcard, which makes its suit trump, or pass. When it is ordered up, the dealer picks up the upcard, holds six cards and discards one face down. If everyone passes, the upcard is turned down and round 2 begins: each player may name any suit except the turned-down card’s suit, or pass. With Stick the dealer: on, the dealer cannot pass in round 2 and must name a suit; with it off, four more passes mean the next dealer deals a new hand.

Five tricks are played in each hand. The player left of the dealer leads the first trick, and the winner of each trick leads the next. You must follow the suit led if you can. Otherwise you may play any card, and the highest trump wins.

What is the euchre trump order?

Trump order runs from the right bower (the jack of trump) down through the left bower (the other jack of the same colour), then the A, K, Q, 10 and 9 of trump. The other suits rank A, K, Q, J, 10 and 9.

The left bower counts as trump, not as its printed suit. With hearts as trump, J♦ is the left bower. It must follow a trump lead if it is your only trump, and it cannot follow diamonds. For example, with hearts as trump and A♥ led, a hand of J♦ 9♦ 10♣ can play J♦. If K♦ is led, the same hand must play 9♦.

In a trick of A♥, J♦, J♥ and K♥, the right bower J♥ beats the left bower and the ace, so the player of the J♥ wins the trick.

How does euchre scoring work?

Scoring uses the tricks won by the maker, the player or team that called trump. The maker’s team scores 1 point for 3 or 4 tricks, and 2 points for all 5 (a march). If the maker has fewer than 3 tricks, the maker is euchred and the defenders score 2 points.

Examples from the game’s code: a maker with 3 tricks scores 1 point. A maker with 5 tricks scores 2 points. A lone maker with 5 tricks scores 4 points. A maker with 2 tricks is euchred, and the defenders score 2 points.

What does going alone mean in euchre?

The maker may go alone. The maker’s partner sits out and their cards are not used, so each trick has three cards and the maker plays against both opponents. A lone maker who wins all five tricks scores 4 points, and a lone maker who wins 3 or 4 scores 1 point.

What are some euchre strategy and tips?

• Count your trump before you call. The two bowers are the highest cards in the game, so a hand holding both is strong.
• Think about who the dealer is before you order up. The upcard always goes into the dealer’s hand, so ordering up a strong card when an opponent deals gives them an extra trump.
• Remember that being euchred gives the defenders 2 points. A call on a weak hand is a real risk.
• When you lead as maker, lead the right bower first, then trump. Leading trump early draws out the opponents’ trump.
• Do not trump a trick your partner is winning. Play a low card instead.
• Going alone can pay 4 points, but it leaves your partner out. Save it for a very strong hand, such as a bower with about four more top cards.
• Remember that the left bower is trump. A suit can look empty when you still hold the left bower.

Frequently asked questions

Is euchre free to play, and do I need to sign up?

Yes, this euchre card game is free. You do not need an account or sign-up, and there is nothing to download.

Can I play euchre on my phone?

Yes. The table fits a 320 px wide screen without sideways scrolling, and your hand stays in one row. You can also use fullscreen mode.

Is my euchre game saved?

Yes. The whole match is saved in your browser after every action, so reloading the page returns you to the same position and the computer carries on. The save stays on this device only. Your settings and your matches-won record are also stored in the browser.

Can I undo a move in this euchre game?

No. The game has no Undo button, so a move you make cannot be taken back. Press New game to start a fresh match at once, with no confirmation.

Can I play euchre with friends online?

No. This euchre online version has one player, you, and three computer players. It has no online multiplayer, accounts or leaderboards.

Can I choose the computer players’ skill level or names?

No. You cannot choose their names or skill level. The computer players always make legal moves, and you can see what each player did in the status line.

Are there other euchre variants, like three-player or a game to 15?

No. The game offers the standard four-player rules only, with the game set to either 10 or 5 points.

More games

• Spades is another partnership trick-taking game, a good next step if you enjoy calling and taking tricks.
• Hearts is a trick-taking game in which you avoid points, so it suits players who like to plan which tricks to lose.
• Cribbage is a two-player counting game with a pegging board, a good choice when you want a slower card game with a scoreboard.
• Gin Rummy is a matching and melding game for two players, useful when you want a game built around forming sets and runs.
• Crazy Eights is a matching game where you play cards of the same suit or rank, a lighter game against one to three computer players.
• Go Fish is a simple game of asking for cards, a good pick for a quick game that anyone can learn.