Friday, April 28, 2006

Euchre Strategy - Double green lead

Euchre QOD: “Please provide the playing protocol"

Euchre Haiku:
You receive your cards
You think about how to play
Don't justify it

Savvy Strategies
In my circle of euchre playing friends there is a guy who is famous for the following play. He wins a trick in a non-trump suit and then he leads back another card in that same suit. He does it so often that we call it the Kevin Maneuver. It’s really quite a good move when the situation warrants it. For example…

If you are sitting in seat 1 and you have a doubleton green suit headed by an Ace, you lead the Ace. If this card wins, your next play should be the other card in that same suit.

Why? Well, for a few reasons.

1. It’s nearly the same as leading trump. After you lead a suit once, it’s likely that at least 2 people will be short in that suit. If it happens to be your partner and the player to your left, then your partner has a chance to over-trump a low trump played by your opponent. The nice thing is that if your partner doesn’t have a higher trump, she doesn’t have to waste it. If you led trump, that wouldn’t be the case.

2. The dealer will often be two suited. One of the discarding strategies is to get short-suited. This often means that a dealer will have a hand that has a doubleton in one suit and is short suited in two others. Using the Kevin Maneuver takes advantage of this discarding tendency.

3. Sometimes it’s the high card. If no one trumps the card from a suit led twice, it’s often the highest one left in that suit. For example, if you play a green Jack the second time a suit is led, it is often high enough to win. This usually only happens late in the game near trick 4 or 5 but it does happen.

Winning a trick and leading back that same suit is an excellent play that you should consider making whenever the situation warrants it. Kevin does it, and so should you.

Euchre on the Web
Want to play euchre but you don't have enough people to play? Consider the following options...

Euchre for one
Euchre for two
Euchre for three (I couldn't find a reference for three but in this article it tells you how they do it.)

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Euchre Strategy - When should you bag?

Euchre QOD: “Bag your tricks.”

Euchre Haiku:
You’ve got some strong cards
Your opponent orders up
It’s time for a set

Euchre Palaver
“Set hand” – (Euchre hand) A hand that has a high potential for setting, or euchring, an opponent who orders the right suit as trump. Unlike a stopper hand, a set hand is usually only good in one or two suits. However, the ultimate set hand is one in which you have 4 jacks and an Ace. This one could set in almost any suit.

Savvy Strategies
While there are not a lot of good opportunities to bag there are times when it’s worth it to take the chance. Here are some tips for the times you could be a bagger.

1. You’re in the first seat and you have two bowers in the same colored suit as the up-card. This is a great hand to have. If your opponents order up trump, they are really in trouble. If everyone passes, then you can bid in the next suit and have a great chance of making your point. I love this hand and you should too.

2. You have 8 points and the opponents have less than 6. When you have a weak hand (15 card points or less) but you have a couple of Aces or trump, you might think of ordering up. But with a hand like that and your score at 8, you should pass. Your opponents might try to bid a weak hand and you can euchre them to make game.

3. You are playing wildly aggressive opponents. They’re out there, opponents that will order up on anything. They’d rather lose by being euchred than lose by being passive. And you’d rather they lose that way too. So if you come up against an opponent like that and you have a weak but biddable hand, just pass and let the maverick hang themselves. Two points are better than one.

On the whole, bagging is a losing strategy. However, it can be profitable under certain circumstances and should be a part of every advanced euchre player’s bag of tricks.

Euchre on the Web
Did you know a horse name Euchre ran in the 2000 Breeder’s Cup? A 30 to 1 shot that didn’t finish in the money. I wonder where ol’ Euchre is today…

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Euchre Hands - Stop in the name of love

Euchre QOD: “That’s not a hand, it’s a foot.”

Euchre Haiku:
Two jacks in your hand
The rest of the cards are blanks.
You can stop a march

Euchre Palaver
“Euchre” – Not just the name of the card game, it means to prevent your opponents from making. It occurs when your team wins at least 3 tricks after the opponents have ordered up trump. When it happens you get 2 points.

Savvy Strategies
There are some hands in euchre that are useful in certain circumstances and have thus earned their own classification. Today, we look at a classic hand called the stopper hand.

Stopper hand – A stopper hand is one in which you can stop a march in any suit called trump. A pure stopper hand is one which contains one card in every suit and two Jacks of different colors. Under these circumstances you would have a winner in every suit. In two suits you have the top bower. And in the other two suits you have the second highest bower protected. The other key element to a stopper hand is that you have no good 3 trump suit. For example, the following hand…

Jack (Hearts)
Jack (Spade)
Ten (Diamonds)
Nine (Diamonds)
Nine (Clubs)

…is a classic stopper hand. With this hand and correct play, you should be able to win one trick in any suit named trump. Note: If the cards are laid out in an unfortunate manner, it is possible that you don’t win a trick with this hand.

When your hand is too strong, it no longer becomes a stopper hand because it is a bidding hand. For example…

Jack (Hearts)
Jack (Spades)
Ace (Diamonds)
King (Diamonds)
Nine (Clubs)

…is a bidding hand. Here you can make diamonds trump and have a pretty good chance of making your point. And if your opponents happen to order up diamonds, you’ve got a pretty good chance of euchring them, making this become a “euchre hand”. But we’ll save the discussion of this type of hand for tomorrow.

Euchre on the Web
More euchre t-shirt love! Seriously, I’ve got to make a Euchre Universe t-shirt. Actually, you know what would make a cool euchre shirt is the logo used over at Euchre Links. Perhaps Harv could put one together for the euchre faithful.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Euchre Returns

Euchre QOD: “Winner winner, chicken dinner”

Euchre Haiku:
A trip to Vegas
Away from euchre four days
It’s good to be back

Euchre Palaver
“Stopper Hand” – This is a hand which contains a sure winning trick no matter what suit is called trump. It “stops” the opponents from getting a sweep or march.

Euchre Universe Notes:
Sorry it’s short but the editors over here at the Euchre Universe are still wiped out from the weekend. 9 hours of sleep in 4 days takes a little time to recover. We’ll be back full strength tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Euchre Strategy - Sitting in the drop

Euchre QOD: “There’s no better place than sitting in the drop.”

Euchre Haiku:
Watch for the next card
In the drop there’s real power
Your options abound

Euchre Palaver
“Sitting in the Drop” – This is a game situation in which you are the last person who has to play a card. At the first trick, the dealer is always sitting in the drop. After that, it is whoever is to the right of the player who won the last trick.

Euchre on the Web
Found these euchre tips from the card expert Joe Andrews. Some interesting scenarios and even a 5 question quiz. Andrews does good work. You will note that he is also the author of one of the books in our affiliates program The Complete Win At Euchre. I have 2 of Andrews’ books but this is not one of them. His writing style is a little stiff for my tastes but he has good information. The first illustrative hand is good but I don’t completely agree with the play in the second hand. I would follow the Lose Early strategy and let the first trick go dumping the Queen of Diamonds. You are sitting in the drop and are in a great position for the next trick.

Universal Notes:
I’ll be heading out to Las Vegas today and will not return until Monday. I’ll try to post some entries from the road but you never know. Stay tuned and keep on eukin’

Euchre Strategy - Another leading tip

Euchre QOD: “Turning down the house”

Euchre Haiku:
Ordering desire
Cards say no but you want to
Listen to the cards

Euchre Palaver
“Turn down” – This is when the dealer decides not to order up trump in the first round of bidding. Usually, it means they don’t have a lot (or any) of that suit and they do have winners in another suit.

Savvy Strategies
Leading tip. What not to lead.

Here’s a mistake that I see happen all the time. The first round of ordering is over and the dealer turns down the up-card. Someone orders a green suit and the person in the first seat leads the suit that was turned down. Invariably, this card gets trumped because the dealer didn’t have any. There was a reason that the dealer turned it down. It most likely was because she didn’t have any. By leading the turned-down suit you open the possibility of the first trick being trumped thereby spoiling your march or euchre defense.

Bottom Line: Don’t lead a green suit that was just turned down.

Euchre on the Web
Here’s a tune called Euchre. A fine enough sounding song, but I have no idea what it has to do with euchre. She never even mentions euchre and it certainly doesn’t feel like euchre. Perhaps she just liked the word.

And a song parody called Euchre. Interesting attempt but it lost me with the line “this game is such a bore.”

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Euchre Statistics - More about the doubleton Ace

Euchre QOD: “Numbers are tyrannical”

Euchre Haiku:
A doubleton Ace
Will win more than it loses
At least if it’s green

Euchre Palaver
“Guarded” – This is a situation when you hold the second highest card plus another one in that suit. Most often encountered when you hold the Left Bower and another trump. Your bower is said to be guarded because if the Right Bower is led, you can play the low card and your Left Bower is then promoted to the highest ranking card.

Euchre Stats and Facts
MATH WARNING!!
While pondering the discussion in yesterday’s post, I was determined to figure out the actual probability that there would be a void if you held the Ace and King of a green suit.

So this is what I came up with.

If you have those 2 cards, it means you have 3 cards that are not in that suit and the up-card is not in that suit. So, there are 18 unknown cards. 4 of them are in your suit and 14 are not.

Since there are 4 of your suit and 15 cards in the hands of the other players, there has to be at least 1 card of your suit in play. But there will be a void if only 1 is in play. There will also be a void if 2 are in play.

The total number of ways that the 18 cards could be distributed between the 3 other players is a simple combination of 18 things taken 15 at a time, for a total of 816 possibilities. That’s not to say there are only 816 hands that the other players can have. That is just to say that there are only 816 ways that the unknown cards can be distributed in play or not in play.

In these 816 situations, there can be either 4,3,2, or 1 card from your suit in play. To figure out how many is a simple combination problem.

4 are in play 364 times (combination of 4 things taken 4 at a time * combination of 14 things taken 11 at a time)

3 are in play 364 times
2 are in play 84 times
1 is in play 4 times

In the case of 1 or 2 cards in play someone has to be void which will be the case about 11% of the time.

The case of 3 or 4 of the cards in play is slightly more complicated. The distribution of these cards can vary. If 3 cards are out, there are 3 unique ways the cards could be distributed. There could be 3 in one hand and none in the other two. There could be 2 in one hand, 1 in another and a void in the other. Finally, there could be 1 card in each hand. In all but the last case, there will be a void. These voids happen 87% of the time or in 317 of the 364 distributions. That represents 39% of the total number of distributions.

Similarly, if 4 cards are out we can figure out the number of times a void happens by looking at all the possible distributions. I skip the details and state that 47% of the time that 4 cards are out, there will be a void. This translates into 21% of the total distributions.

So what does all this tell us? If you have a doubleton Ace, you can expect that it could be trumped about 71% of the time (11+21+39). If your partner happens to be the one who is void then you have no worries. But odds are better (about 48%) that your opponents will be the ones with the void and it’s likely to get trumped.

Bottom line: If you have the Ace / King of a suit, lead the Ace. If you have Ace / King and another, lead the King.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Euchre Strategy - What to do when you're long

Euchre QOD: “You’re not getting older, you’re getting longer”

Euchre Haiku:
Look at the five cards
Find the suit that’s the long one
Hopefully, it’s trump

Euchre Palaver
“Long suit” – A suit in which you have two or more cards.

Savvy Strategies
There will be times when you have a hand that contains a long suit (e.g. two or more cards in a suit). If that suit is a non-trump suit and includes the Ace and King there are a variety of ways you might play it since the chances are high that someone is void your long suit. Somehow I figured out that a doubleton Ace in a green suit will win 52% of the time. (I’ll have to go back and remember how I did that). The following tips are useful when playing your long suits.

1. If you have Ace, King, and another card in a suit, lead the King. Your partner might trump it but that’s ok. The chances that someone is void in that suit is pretty good (as are the chances that two people are void in the suit).

2. If you have Ace, King in a suit, lead the Ace if you want to win the trick. If your partner is following standard euchre conventions, she will not trump your ace.

3. If you have Ace, King in a suit, lead the King if you want your partner to win the trick. Sometimes you don’t really want the lead and you’d like to give your partner a chance to win a trick. In these cases, lead a King from your long suit. Your partner will trump if she can.

4. If you have Ace, King in a suit and ordered weak trump, lead a different suit. You don’t want to lead trump because you are weak and you don’t want to lead your long suit because it might get trumped. Lead a card from a short suit and hope that partner covers or one of the opponents wins it and leads back your long suit.

5. If you have Ace, King in a suit and ordered strong trump, lead trump. What are you saving them for? Leading strong trump makes your long suits more valuable.

Euchre on the Web
For you fans of the seventies, check out this euchre t-shirt

The Official Compilation of Euchre Palaver

Euchre is a great game played by people from all over the world. There are clubs throughout the United States, in Canada, and even some on the other side of the big pond. It’s been around for so many years that jargon specific to the game naturally developed. Here at the euchre universe, we endeavor to collect these bits of game jargon and present them here in a single post. Each time a new term is added we will update this. In time, this compilation could become as important a work as the Oxford English Dictionary.

Note: Some terms are regional but the use of each one has been verified by the crack research staff at the Euchre Universe. If you have any suggested terms used by your euchre group, feel free to submit them to the editors.


Alone – Term said when a player wishes to play the round against the opponents without help from her partner. See Going Alone

Assist – To order up your partner when she is the dealer; ordering from the power seat

At the bridge – In a 10 point game, it’s when a team has scored 9 points and is only 1 away from winning the game. Also called In the Barn.

Bagger – A player that uses the strategy of bagging.

Bagging - This is when your opponent is dealing, you have a good hand, but you pass. You are hoping they’ll pick it up and then you can euchre them. This is also known as passing dirty. And if you do it, you are known as the “bagger”. It’s not such a great strategy unless you are sitting in the weak seat (third from the dealer).

Bowers – The Jacks of the trump suit. The Right Bower is the highest card and it is the Jack of the trump suit. The Left Bower is the second highest card and it is the Jack of the suit that is same color as the trump (the “next” suit).

Bubbles – Cutesy name for the Hearts suit

Columbus Coup – Term coined by Natty Bumpo to refer to the Donation strategy.

Dealer – The player who distributes the cards on any given round.

Diamantez – Cutesy name for the Diamonds suit

Discard – The card that the dealer gets rid of into the “kitty” (or talon) when picking up the trump card.

Donation – This is a defensive strategy in which you order up knowing full well that you will probably get euchred. Your intent is to concede 2 points to the opponents hoping to prevent a 4 point loner.

Doubleton - Having only two cards in a certain suit

Exposed card – This is a card that has been turned face-up accidentally. Technically, it is supposed to remain that way and played at the first legal opportunity.

Farmer’s Hand – A hand which contains only Tens and Nines. In some euchre circles being dealt a farmer’s hand would result in a re-deal.

First Round – The round of ordering that starts immediately after the cards are dealt and the up-card is turned.

Going Alone – This is a situation in which one member of the partnership orders up trump and says “alone”. That player’s partner puts her hand down and is relegated to watching the action and sweeping the tricks. She is allowed to sweep so she feels like she’s part of the game. Getting all the tricks on a loner will net your team 4 points. Getting 3 or 4 tricks results in 1 point and getting euchred results in 2 points for opponents.

Green – This is a term used to mean the wrong color. In euchre there are certain conventions that snooty, backwoods players expect you to follow. If you are sitting first chair, you are supposed to call the “next” suit. If you call suit that is not next, you are calling the “wrong” suit and or the green suit. For example if Spades is trump, the green suits would be Hearts or Diamonds.

Guarded – This is a situation when you hold the second highest card plus another one in that suit. Most often encountered when you hold the Left Bower and another trump. Your bower is said to be guarded because if the Right Bower is led, you can play the low card and your Left Bower is then promoted to the highest ranking card.

Hook – A common term for a Jack. (The J looks a bit like a hook, right?) You will often hear people calling for a “hook” to be turned over when they are dealing.

Horse – The 6 card used for scorekeeping

In the barn – This means a team has scored 9 points in a 10 point game and is one away from victory. Also known as At the Bridge.

Kibitzing – Saying something that reveals information about your hand or indicates what your partner should play. For example, telling your partner not to trump your ace or to lead a certain suit is illegal kibitzing. There are forms of legal Kibitzing such as saying “alone” or “stay home”. Also known as table talk.

Kitty – These are the 4 cards that remain after everyone’s been dealt their 5 cards. The top card of the kitty is flipped over, becoming the up-card, and is used during the first round of bidding. If someone orders it up, the dealer gets to discard one of her cards with the top card of the kitty. The remaining 3 kitty cards are never used in play. Kitty is a controversial term as some euchre purists do not believe it is technically correct. Talon is the more “correct” term but language evolves and while kitty may not have been correct in the past, so many players use it to refer to the remaining dead cards that it warrants inclusion in this work.

Knock – This is a hand signal used when a player wants to pass. One could say “knock” but it’s much classier to actually knock on the playing surface. Of course, no one ever said euchre was a classy game.

Lay down loner – A hand that is so good that it doesn’t matter how you play it you will win all the tricks. The hand consists of 5 trump headed by the two bowers and the Ace. Also known as a no brainer.

Leading – The action of laying out the first card of a trick. The person in the first seat left of the dealer gets the privilege of leading any card to start the game. All subsequent tricks are led by the winner of the previous trick.

Left Bower – The Jack of the suit that is the same color as the trump suit. It is the second highest ranking card in the deck.

Lone Ace – An ace in your hand in a suit in which you have no other cards. More generally called a singleton.

Long Suit - A suit in which you have two or more cards.

Make the hand – To order trump and win at least 3 of the 5 tricks.

Maker – the player who establishes the trump suit by ordering up in the first round or naming trump in the second round of bidding.

March – This is when your team gets all the tricks and scores 2 points (or 4 if it’s a loner). This is also known as a sweep.

Next – Refers to the suit that is the same color as the up-turned card. It is a common strategy to order up “next” from seat 1 in the second round of bidding. This makes sense because it’s likely that the dealer does not have a bower of that color.

No-brainer – Also known as a lay down loner, this is a hand where the cards are so strong that no one else will win a trick (e.g. having a 5 trump hand with the Right and Left bowers).

Passing Dirty – This is when your opponent is dealing, you have a good hand, but you pass. You are hoping they’ll pick it up and then you can euchre them. This is also known as “bagging”. And if you do it, you are known as the “bagger”. It’s not such a great strategy unless you are sitting in the weak seat.

Paying Al - Term used by Chicago euchre players to refer to the Donation strategy.

Pips – The symbols on the cards indicating the suit. In a standard deck these are clubs, diamonds, spades, and hearts. In one Christmas deck the pips are snowmen, trees, elves and santas. Go figure.

Power Seat – The player sitting in the second seat left of the dealer. The dealer’s partner.

Promotion – Increasing the power of a lower card in any suit. This occurs when any of the higher cards are played on an earlier trick. For example, if you have the Left Bower and the Right Bower is played on an earlier trick, the Left is “promoted” to the highest ranked card.

Puppy paws – Cutesy name for Clubs

Right Bower – The highest ranking card in the deck. It is the Jack of the Trump suit.

Renege – This is when a player fails to play a card from the suit led even though they have one. When and if discovered the non-offending team receives the maximum possible number of points for that deal, usually 2 points. You are allowed to correct a renege as long as the next trick isn’t played. Since euchre is such a fast-paced game, some “creative” players will try to use reneging as a winning strategy. It works well against opponents who don’t pay attention much. Also called revoke.

Revoke – Same as renege.

Rider – The 4 card used for scorekeeping

Ruff – To play a trump card on a trick that was led with a suit in which you are void. This is the type of play that allows the lowly 9 of trump to beat a mighty non-trump Ace.

Screw the dealer – (Stick The Dealer, STD). This is an optional rule in which the dealer is not allowed to pass a second time. She is required to order something up except the suit of the turned down card. This rule has the effect of speeding up the game as points are scored on every deal.

Second Round – The round of ordering that starts immediately after each player has passed once and the up-card is turned down.

Shake the bushes – this is a strategy where you lead trump. It usually refers to the first trick. If your team made trump then leading it is usually a good play. If you are the defending team, leading trump is less often a good play.

Shift – In the world of card manipulation (legerdemain) this is the act of reversing a cut thus putting the cards back the way they started. Highly effective and easy to pull off with a small euchre deck. Some shifty euchre players do this all the time.

Shovels – Cutesy name for Spades

Singleton – This means having only one card in a given suit. When it’s the Ace, you call it the lone Ace.

Skunk – When you beat your opponents (or in the unbelievable event that they beat you) 10-0. In some euchre leagues where points count towards season placing you can score up to 13 points by making a loner when your team has 9 points. In some circles, 5 points is a game and a skunk would then be winning 5-0.

Squeeze Play – A strategy in which you force your opponent to choose between two equally good cards to throw away. It is an offensive strategy often employed when going alone.

Stay home – this is what you do when your partner opts to go alone. Used in context it would go something like this. “I’m going alone partner so you can just stay home”.

Steal the deal – A common ploy in which a player attempts to deal when it’s their opponent’s turn. In most euchre circles this is a perfectly acceptable form of cheating. Against drunk and sober folks alike this trick is pretty easy to pull off. And the advantage is HUGE!! The dealing team wins the round about 70% of the time. So get your opponents chatting and gather up the cards for yourself. According to euchre rules once the deal is complete (trump card is turned up) it is a legal deal and you’ve successfully stolen the deal.

Sweeper – The player that picks up the winning tricks for their side. In some partnerships one person sweeps all the tricks whenever their team wins and the other partner keeps score.

Table talk – Saying something that reveals information about your hand or indicates what your partner should play. For example, telling your partner not to trump your ace or to lead a certain suit is illegal table talk. Some also call this “Kibitzing”.

Talon – The more accurate term for the 4 cards left over after the hands of a euchre game have been dealt. It is more commonly referred to as the Kitty.

Throw off – To play a card that is not the suit led but is also not trump.

Trick – Four cards put face-up on the table during a single turn. The winner of the trick is the person who laid the highest ranking card in the suit led or trump. They collect all the cards in the trick, lay them face down, and lead a card for the next trick. A single trick is one fifth of a game.

Trump – The suit that is the highest in a game of euchre. The smallest card in this suit (9 of trump) will beat the highest card in any different suit. Trump is determined by the up-card in the first round or the declared suit in the second round.

Trumping – Playing a trump card on a trick in which a different suit was led. Also known as “ruffing”, this play requires that you do not have a card in the led suit. Since any trump is higher than any non-trump, this card will usually win the trick. That is unless someone trumps higher.

Turn down – This is when the dealer decides not to order up trump in the first round of bidding. Usually, it means they don’t have a lot (or any) of that suit and they do have winners in another suit.

Up-card – the card that gets flipped from the remaining four (called either the Kitty or the Talon) that determines the first suit that can be named trump. If everyone passes, the up-card is turned down and a different suit must be named trump or the cards are re-dealt.

Void – Not having any cards in a given suit. It is useful to be void in a non-trump suit as it allows you to ruff a high card with a small trump.

Weak Seat – The player sitting in the chair that is third from the left of dealer.

Wrong Suit – The green suit, the suit that is not the next suit, the one that is the opposite color of the turned down trump suit.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Euchre experience - Light fair for a Friday

Euchre QOD:  “Turn down a bower, lose for an hour”

Euchre Haiku:
Friday afternoons
Baseball, sunshine and euchre
It gets no better

Euchre Palaver
“Crossing the Creek” – To order up trump after the first round in the same color suit as the one turned down.  Same thing as calling next.  The opposite of going “green”.  

Euchre on the Web
Would you look at that, someone made an instructional movie of euchre.  Looks like it’s for kids and uses (gasp!) 32 cards!  No one uses 32 cards to play euchre!!  We’re going to have to commission a Euchre Universe instructional video.  Stay tuned.

Some interesting euchre superstitions.  Does anyone out there in the euchre universe have any to share?  Leave a comment.

Hey you Americans, don’t forget to file your taxes.  Actually, file an extension, it’s a much better strategy.  

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Euchre Strategies - Saving your point alone

Euchre QOD: “A point on the board is worth four in your prayers.”

Euchre Haiku:
You’re going for four
But one killer trump remains
Lead off, save a point

Euchre Palaver
“Shake the bushes” – this is a strategy where you lead trump. It usually refers to the first trick. If your team made trump then leading it is usually a good play. If you are the defending team, leading trump is only a good play if the person to your left ordered it up.

Savvy Strategies
In yesterday’s entry the following scenario was presented.

The score is 0 – 0. You are sitting in the first seat and are dealt the following hand.

The turned up card is the 9 of clubs. You tell your partner to stay home opting (as you should) to go alone.

First Trick:
You properly lead with the Right Bower. The player on your left plays the 10 of clubs and the player on your right plays the 9 of clubs.

Second Trick:
You next play the Left Bower. The player on your left plays the 10 of hearts and the other player plays the Queen of clubs.

So, what should you play at the Third Trick? If you answered Ace of Hearts you are correct! The Ace lead ensures that you will not be euchred and that you still may make your bid. The only way the Ace can be beat is if your opponent has the final remaining trump and plays it. Then you have the remaining trump which ensures that you win at least 3 tricks. If the Ace of hearts wins, then lead the King of Clubs. If the opponents have the Ace of trump, they play it but you still got your 3 tricks for the point. If they don’t, your Queen of Hearts lead could march and a well-deserved 4 points will go your team’s way.

Some may have thought that leading the King of Clubs might be the way to go because that reduces the chance that the opponents will be able to hold 2 hearts. But that opens up the possibility of a euchre. Suppose the dealer had 3 trump headed by the Ace of Clubs. You lead the King, it gets beat by the Ace and you have no way of scoring your Heart tricks. The safest and smartest play is the Ace of Hearts.

One point ahead is always better than two behind.

Euchre Lit
“We called for a deck of cards and sat down at a table and played euchre for an hour, in which time Louis treated once, and I treated once, to beer--the cheapest drink, ten cents for two.” John Barleycorn by London, Jack

Euchre Excursions
If you happen to be in Las Vegas next Thursday, April 20, 2006, check out Moon Doggies for a live euchre tournament. $15 and no partner needed!!

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Euchre Strategies - Hand of the week

Euchre QOD: “Play like a parasite”

Euchre Haiku:
A loner assured
Played right the game is over
Played wrong you suffer

Euchre Palaver
“Stay home” – this is what you do when your partner opts to go alone. Used in context it would go something like this. “I’m going alone partner so you can just stay home”.

Hand of the week
Remaining positive

Consider the following situation…

The score is 0 – 0. You are sitting in the first seat and are dealt the following hand.

The turned up card is the 9 of clubs. You tell your partner to stay home opting (as you should) to go alone.

First Trick: You properly lead with the Right Bower. The player on your left plays the 10 of clubs and the player on your right plays the 9 of clubs.

Second Trick: You next play the Left Bower. The player on your left plays the 10 of hearts and the other player plays the Queen of clubs.

You’ve already gotten 2 tricks and are well on your way to a march. What should you lead next?

Third Trick???

We’ll talk about the answer tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Euchre tips - How to Deal

Euchre QOD: “Flip with a flourish”

Euchre Haiku:
You are dealer now
Control of the game is yours
Use the power well

Euchre Palaver
“Upcard” – the card that gets flipped from the remaining four (called either the Kitty or the Talon) that determines the first suit that can be named trump. If everyone passes, the upcard is turned down and a different suit must be named trump or the cards are redealt.

Savvy Strategies
In previous posts we’ve discussed cutting the deck and handling the cards. In this entry we’ll discuss the proper “euchre” way to deal.

Unlike most games, the cards in euchre are not supposed to be dealt one at a time. They are to be dealt in batches of 2 or 3 cards and dealing should be completed in two rounds. Here is a simple method to follow when you have the responsibility for dealing.

1. Gather up the cards and ready them for shuffling. The most critical piece of this step is that YOU gather the cards. A ploy that some shifty players employ is to “help” gather the cards, and then proceed to steal the deal. It’s easy to forget whose deal it is and people just figure the person touching the cards is supposed to be dealing.

2. Shuffle the cards adequately. We talked about shuffling the other day. You should shuffle quickly but thoroughly. The most you should shuffle is seven passes and the least is four. The exact number depends on how quickly you shuffle, how much you like shuffling, and how you want your opponents to feel. If you want to annoy your opponents, shuffle a lot and do it slowly. If you want to intimidate them, shuffle quickly and flashy.

3. Deal out the cards in groups of 2 or 3 in a clock wise manner. Here’s where euchre is different than most any other card game. Dealing is done in two rounds. In the first round, I like to give 2 cards to each player but 3 cards to myself. In the second round, it is 3 cards to everyone else, but 2 to me. Deals of 4 and 1 are just not allowed. If I’m losing, I’ll often mix up the pattern to change my luck. Of course, being the fatalist that I am, I realize that a change is futile.

4. When finished dealing, count the number of cards left over. There should be four. If there is not, you’ve misdealt and need to collect the cards and start over. If there are four, you still may have misdealt but probably not.

5. Put the remaining cards on the table and flip the top card with a flourish. It is perfectly legitimate to loudly call out “HOOK!” when turning the card. While this type of cheering does nothing to affect which card comes out, opponents will find it disturbing when a Jack does come up. Incidentally, this will happen about 17% of the time (1 in 6).

Euchre on the Web
The Euchre Report. A dark recap of a friendly game of euchre by Susan Steinberg. An interesting read.

Monday, April 10, 2006

Irregularities

Euchre QOD: “Squeaky wheels get everything they want”

Euchre Haiku:
Following the rules
It’s what you’re supposed to do
Not all would agree

Euchre Palaver
“Exposed card” – This is a card that has been turned face-up accidentally. Technically, it is supposed to remain that way and played at the first legal opportunity.

Savvy Strategies
Most of the time a euchre game will go off without a hitch. Dealers deal the right amount of cards, players follow suit, and nobody breaks any of the rules. However, there are occasions when mistakes are made. Here is a listing of the common snafus and suggestions on how to handle them.

1. Misdeal. When a player receives more or less cards than required. In euchre, everyone is supposed to receive 5 cards and the four remaining cards are placed face down on the table. If a misdeal is discovered prior to the first trick being played, a re-deal by the current dealer is proper. If discovered after however, a re-deal is required but the deal is then passed to the next team.
Tip: When you finish dealing, always count to ensure there are 4 cards left-over.

2. Revoke or Renege. This is when a player doesn’t follow suit when required to. This is usually done accidentally. If a renege is discovered (and can be proven) the offending team automatically loses and their opponents receive the maximum score possible on that play. 2 points if everyone is playing, 4 points if it is a loner. If it’s not discovered, no action is taken. It’s reminiscent of the old philosopher’s question…if a tree falls in the forest but nobody hears it, does it make a sound? If a player reneges and nobody notices, did it really happen?
Tip: Keep tricks you win separated so you can go back and review them if needed

3. Exposed cards. These are cards that accidentally get turned face-up. The remedy is to leave the card face-up on the table and to play it at the first legal opportunity. This is a bit of a harsh rule and rarely do you find anyone who follows it. Usually, the card is just taken back in the hand after everyone is told what it is.

4. Lead out of turn. When a player starts a trick when it wasn’t their turn to do so. If everyone plays before the error is discovered, the trick stands. If it’s noticed then the card becomes and exposed card that is left face-up on the table and played at the first legal opportunity. Hopefully, the error is not a nefarious ploy.

5. Bidding errors. When a player tries to bid the suit that was turned down. If this happens, the offending team is technically not allowed to order it up. But euchre is a social game and usually people let it slide.

6. Declaring out of turn. When a player declares whether to order it up or not even though it’s not their turn. If the declaration is to pass, there are no repercussions. If it is anything else, the offending team is forbidden to bid.

7. Table talk. A player says something to his partner that indicates the contents of his hand. If this occurs the player to the right of the offending player is allowed to declare the suit of the next card to be led. It’s a complicated solution and one that rarely gets employed. Mostly, people just forgive the offense and play continues. However, accusing someone of cheating certainly isn’t out of the question. (just kidding).

Euchre on the Web
Here is a story of card playing going on at Harding University in Michigan. Euchre versus Spades? Both are good games but Euchre gets the nod in my book. It is faster paced, skillful and it doesn’t favor one suit over another. Why didn’t they invent a game called Clubs? Now that’s a good suit. The author must also not be a euchre card player because she writes that euchre is played with 32 cards. That’s how it’s written in Hoyle but no body ‘round these parts plays with 32 cards!

I noticed that the “Semi Official Euchre Pages” don’t seem to work anymore. Matt and Erin must have graduated.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Handling the cards

Euchre QOD: “Flashy is fazing”

Euchre Haiku:
Pick up the pasteboards
Shuffle with dexterity
Your foes will notice

Euchre Palaver
“Paste boards” – Another name for playing cards.

Savvy Strategies
Since euchre is a game with a large element of luck, you will need to find other ways than just solid card playing to win more often. One of the best ways is to intimidate your opponents with flashy card handling. When come foes see good card manipulators they just assume that they are good card players. This gives them a natural edge that can be useful during the match. Here is a list of a few card handling skills that you should know to become an expert euchre engineer.

1. Shuffle cards like a pro. Are you still fumbling around with a deck of cards? Do you shy away from the pack when it’s your turn to shuffle? STOP! Learn how to shuffle. It’s not that hard but it does take a little practice. The most common form is the Riffle Shuffle. But there’s the Overhand, the Hindu, the Weave…I could go on. Tim Ryerson put together this handy tutorial. Unfortunately, he is a southpaw so you’ll have to translate it if you’re right handed.

2. Cut the cards. My number one rule of life…Put your faith in providence but always cut the deck. Do it in euchre especially. It’s way too easy to cull cards as discussed previously. When you cut the cards using the standard method, take half the pile and set it towards the dealer. Watch carefully that the cards are replaced in the proper manner. That is, the cards that are the bottom half should be put on the top half. Here are some flashy, one-handed cuts. Of course, they don’t really work for euchre because you have to pick the deck up off the table and this is frowned on. But in a friendly game, feel free to show your skills. There is a way to do a one handed cut without lifting the cards off the table. I’ll describe how at another time.

3. Vest your cards. Keep your cards hidden at all times. Don’t spread them out wide so the world can see them. Spread them thinly in your hands and peak at what you have. If you can memorize them and not look at them while you play all the better. No need to give your opponents any extra information. It’s easy to accidentally peer at your opponent’s cards even if you don’t necessarily want to.

There are more but time is a tyrant and I can save material for a later entry.

Euchre Lit
“He taught me euchre, and after dividing London between us, I taking the northern side and he the southern, we played for parish points.” The War Of The Worlds by Wells, H.G.

Euchre on the Web
Newt’s playing cards sell a euchre set that looks interesting enough. Although, I have no problems just using a regular deck. I post the site because of the other interesting decks they have including left-handed decks and personalized ones.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Slow down, you move too fast

Euchre QOD: “Take it slow, but take it.”

Euchre Haiku:
Watch your opponents
Paying attention is hard
They slip, get the edge

Euchre Palaver
“Pips” – The symbols on the cards indicating the suit. In a standard deck these are clubs, diamonds, spades, and hearts. I have a Christmas deck that has snowmen, trees, elves and santas as the pips. Go figure.

Savvy Strategies
It would be tough to get away with this one more than once or twice but it is a nice tip to have in your back pocket.

Previously, we discussed what you should discard. We didn’t mention however, HOW you should discard.

When your opponents have ordered it up, it is best to decide what to discard slowly. Wait until they are paying attention to actually discard. You might get lucky and they will lead out a card before you have discarded. If this happens you are perfectly able to throw away the appropriate suit and ruff the trick if you can. I say this will only work once because no opponent will make that mistake many more times than once. Unless they are particularly daft or drunk players from Chicago.

Some have suggested that it is perfectly legal when the person in seat 3 orders up a loner that the dealer’s partner (who is required to lead) can start a trick prior to the dealer discarding. This allows the dealer to know exactly what to throw away! And while it may not be in the spirit of the rules, it is definitely not forbidden.

In the official Hoyle rulebook of cards they suggest that in these situations the lead should shift to the player that is left of the maker (namely the dealer). This completely negates the dealer’s discard advantage. Fortunately, no one except people from Michigan play this rule. However, I should note that during league night a few weeks ago one of my opponents pointed out this exact rule and said that it was “written in the book of Hoyle”. I was skeptical but in fact it was there. Oh well, Hoyle also says that euchre is played with 32 cards and we know that that is just not right!

Bottom line: Discard slowly to gain valuable discarding information.

Euchre on the Web
Some articles about the history of euchre…

Our pals at KUV euchre site have this to say about euchre history.

Of course, we can’t forget the wikipedia euchre entry. Feel free to add as you like.

And if you’re looking for that perfect gift to get your favorite euchre partner in celebration of Tartan Day, check out this handsome Card & Mug set from Blue Button Gifts.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Some euchre stats and facts

Euchre QOD: “There’s no math in euchre”

Euchre Haiku:
Wait all night for Jack
Shows up alone wearing green
He’s nearly worthless

Euchre Palaver
“Lay down loner” – A hand that is so good that it doesn’t matter how you play it you will win all the tricks. The hand consists of 5 trump headed by the two bowers and the Ace. According to Natty, these beauties are pretty rare (1 in 1771).

Euchre Stats & Facts
Did you know?

1. The minimum number of hands to play a complete game of euchre is 3
2. The maximum number of hands to play a complete game is 19.
3. There are 42504 possible euchre hands.
4. The chances of being dealt the top 5 trump cards in any suit are 1 in 10626.
5. The chances of being dealt a lay down loner are 72 in 42504 (1 in 1771)
6. The chances of having at least one Jack in your hand 5 out of every 6 hands
7. The chances of having only one Jack in your hand 5 out of every 11 hands.

Euchre on the Web
Update from yesterday. In yesterday’s entry I said I had no idea what was meant by “Hoyle Theory”. Well, the Euchre Universe faithful responded and enlightened me. Thanks Harv. Be sure to check out his excellent euchre site. The Hoyle Theory is a strategy in which you call the Next suit if you are sitting in seat 1. We discussed this previously.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Keep it chaotic

Euchre QOD: “Disorder is deceiving”

Euchre Haiku:
Cards are confusing
But don’t put them in order
It’s easy to spot

Euchre Palaver
“Slough” – This is when a player can not follow suit and plays a non-trump card. Also known as a discard. When trump is played in these situations it’s called “ruffing”.

Savvy Strategies
When you are playing euchre you will be tempted to sort your cards. But don’t do it. A crafty player will watch you and can often get a clue as to the distribution of your cards. Your best bet is to just get good at euchre and play without sorting your cards.

And if you want to be a crafty player, watch your opponents when they pick up their cards. People invariably sort the cards the same way. If you can spot where they put their trump and which cards they pull out of their hands, you can get a great idea about what is actually in their hand.

Bottom line: Don’t sort those cards!!

Euchre on the Web
Some euchre trivia posted here. These are pretty basic and in my league you can score up to 13 points (a loner when you have 9 points). I have no idea what they mean by The Hoyle Theory. I know Hoyle is the bible of card rules but how it applies to a card strategy…hmmm. I’ll look into it.

More alternative euchre variants here. I guess you can choose some of these to “mix it up” a bit.

Assiting your partner

Euchre QOD: “Bower power”

Euchre Haiku:
Seat two has power
The weak hands are much stronger
Bid often win more

Euchre Palaver
“Assist” – To order up your partner when she is the dealer; ordering from seat 2 (the power seat).

Savvy Strategies
Of all the seats at the euchre table, the second seat is my favorite. That is the seat who happens to be the dealer’s partner. When you are sitting here even terrible euchre hands start to look better. Follow these ordering tips to make the most of the power seat.

1. Never order up with 1 trump. We start with this tip because sometimes the point system will suggest ordering it up even if you have only 1 trump. Don’t do it because it is a losing play.
2. Don’t order it up when your team is “in the pasture” and the up-card is a Bower. You don’t want to spoil your partner’s chance at making a loner to win the game do you? Well, then don’t. A 4 point win at this time in the game is much more valuable than the 1 or 2 points you could achieve by ordering it up.
3. Order it up when you have 11 card points. So, hands in which you have the 9 and 10 of trump with an off-Ace should be ordered. If you have the Ace and 9 of trump with an off-King you should order it up. And any hand where you have either bower with another trump, you should order. Aggressive euchre is winning euchre.
4. Go alone when you have 4 trump. If your partner is taking one trump down and you have 4 that means there are only 2 unaccounted for. Odds are pretty good that they are both buried (in partner’s hand or the kitty) or that the opponents only have 1.

5. Go alone when you have 23 points. Again, your partner is taking one trump down and you’ve got at least 3 headed by the right bower. This is a loner call if ever there was one. Unless you have 8 points of course, then you should bring partner along.

The second seat is the most fun one to play. If you are not ordering up too often, then you’re just not playing it right.

Euchre on the Web
An interesting post about euchre.