Euchre

Euchre is a fast, social trick-taking game for four players in two partnerships. Play this euchre card game free in your browser, with no download or sign-up, on desktop or on your phone. You sit South with a computer partner opposite you at North, playing against two computer opponents, and the first team to 10 points wins.

How to play

Euchre uses a 24-card deck: the 9, 10, J, Q, K and A of each suit. Each player gets five cards, and the next card is turned face up beside the deck.

• Round one of bidding: starting left of the dealer, each player can order up the upcard, making its suit trump, or pass. If anyone orders it up, the dealer adds the upcard to their hand and discards a card face down.
• Round two: if all four pass, the upcard is turned down and each player in turn can name any other suit as trump, or pass. If everyone passes again, the hand is thrown in and the deal moves left. With the stick the dealer option on, the dealer can’t pass in round two and must name trump.
• Going alone: the player who chooses trump (the maker) can go alone. Their partner sits the hand out, and taking all five tricks scores extra.
• Playing tricks: the player left of the dealer leads first. Everyone must follow the suit led if they can. If you can’t, you may play any card, including a trump. The highest trump wins the trick. If no trump was played, the highest card of the suit led wins. The trick winner leads next.

The bowers: the jack of the trump suit is the right bower, the highest card in the game. The other jack of the same colour is the left bower, the second-highest trump. If hearts are trump, the jack of hearts is the right bower and the jack of diamonds is the left bower, followed by the A, K, Q, 10 and 9 of hearts. The left bower counts as a trump, not as its printed suit. When hearts are trump and diamonds are led, the jack of diamonds doesn’t follow suit.

Scoring

• The makers take 3 or 4 tricks: 1 point.
• The makers take all 5 tricks (a march): 2 points.
• A lone maker takes all 5 tricks: 4 points.
• The makers take fewer than 3 tricks: they are euchred, and the defenders score 2 points.

The first team to reach 10 points wins. Your games won are saved in your browser.

Strategy tips

• Count your trump before you call. Three trumps with a bower, or two high trumps and an off-suit ace, is usually enough to make the hand. A weak call that gets euchred hands the other team 2 points.
• Mind who gets the upcard. Ordering up gives the card to the dealer. That’s good when your partner is dealing, and risky when an opponent is.
• Lead trump when your side made it. Pulling the opponents’ trumps early protects your aces later. If your partner called trump, leading a trump back to them is a classic play.
• Don’t overtake your partner. If your partner is already winning the trick, throw your lowest card and keep your strong cards.
• Make yourself void. When the dealer picks up, discard a lone low card in a side suit. Then you can trump that suit when it’s led.

FAQ

Is this Euchre game free?

Yes. It’s completely free with no account and no install. Hit New game to start a fresh game to 10 anytime.

Can I play Euchre against the computer?

Yes. Your partner and both opponents are computer players. They call trump, go alone with strong hands and play to win tricks.

What is “stick the dealer”?

It’s a popular house rule. If nobody names trump in the second round, the dealer must choose a suit, so a hand is never thrown in. It’s off by default. Turn it on with the option above the table.

Does it work on a phone or Chromebook?

Yes. Tap a glowing card to play it, and use the buttons under the table to bid. On a keyboard, keys 1–6 play a card and Enter deals the next hand.