How We Teach Euchre at Charleston Euchre Club

Illustration of a jester hat and masked face with the phrase “You Can’t Trick a Pro” — a fun and bold euchre-themed graphic used by Charleston Euchre Club.
New to Euchre? Don’t worry — you’ll pick it up quickly, and our members are always happy to help you learn. We just ask that you review the basics beforehand so you’re ready to jump in.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to how we play Euchre at Charleston Euchre Club.

🎴 The Setup
Euchre is played with 4 players split into 2 teams. Sit across from your partner. The deck only includes 9s through Aces. Each player is dealt 5 cards. The remaining 4 cards form the kitty, and the top card of the kitty is flipped face-up — this becomes the potential trump suit. A hand consists of 5 tricks. First team to 10 points wins the game.

πŸƒ How a Hand Starts
After the kitty card is flipped, each player (starting left of the dealer) has one chance to tell the dealer to “pick it up” — making that suit the trump. If someone does, the dealer adds it to their hand and discards one. If everyone passes, a second round begins where players can name a different suit as trump. If all pass again, the dealer must call trump — this is called Stick the Dealer.

♠️ Trump and the Bowers
The Right Bower (Jack of the trump suit) is the highest card in the game. The Left Bower (Jack of the same-color suit) is second-highest and also counts as trump. For example, if Spades are trump, the Jack of Clubs is the Left Bower.

♥️ Playing the Hand
The player to the dealer’s left leads the first card. Players must follow suit if they can. If not, they may play any other card — including trump. The highest trump played wins the trick. If no trump is played, the highest card in the suit led wins. The winner of each trick leads the next.

♣️ Scoring
If your team calls trump and wins:
• 3 or 4 tricks = 1 point
• 5 tricks = 2 points
If you get euchred (fail to win 3 tricks), the other team earns 2 points.
Going alone and winning all 5 tricks scores 4 points.

♦️ Common Terms
Trump – The dominant suit that beats all others
Right Bower – Jack of trump; highest card
Left Bower – Jack of same-color suit; also counts as trump
Trick – One round of 4 cards played
Euchre – When the team that called trump loses
Going Alone – Playing the hand without your partner to earn bonus points

It’s easy to follow once you’ve seen a hand or two — and our members are always glad to help if you’ve reviewed the basics and are ready to play.

πŸ‘‰ Join us any Tuesday, Thursday, or 2nd & 4th Sunday
Play, meet great people, and have fun. Visit CHSEuchre.com for full event details and club info.

Comments

Post a Comment

Have a question or comment? Drop it below — we’d love to hear from you!

Popular Posts

Now Live: Nationwide Euchre Event Calendar!

Image
We're excited to announce a brand-new resource for Euchre players and club organizers across the country — the  Nationwide Euchre Event Calendar  is now live! Whether you're looking for a casual meetup, a weekly tournament, or planning a road trip and want to play cards along the way, this is your one-stop hub for discovering and sharing Euchre events happening in every state. πŸ—“ What You’ll Find: ✓ Weekly meetups ✓ Tournaments with cash prizes ✓ Casual pub nights and club gatherings ✓ Special regional events and festivals ✓ Events hosted by clubs, breweries, senior centers, community groups, and more ✍️ How to Add Your Event: Have an event to share? Submitting is quick and easy. ✅ No account needed ✅ Takes less than 60 seconds ✅ Updated live on our event page πŸ‘‰  Submit an Event Here πŸ” Browse Upcoming Events: You can now view upcoming events on our new  Euchre Events Across the U.S.  page. New submissions are added automatically every 5 minutes, so check back ...
Read more

Play Cards. Make Friends. Have Fun — Join the Charleston Euchre Club

Image
Looking for something fun to do in Charleston that doesn’t involve overpriced cocktails or awkward small talk? You’re in the right place. The Charleston Euchre Club is a welcoming, fast-growing group of players who meet up weekly to enjoy cards, conversation, and a great local brewery vibe — whether you’re a seasoned Euchre veteran or just learning the ropes. Here’s what you can expect: ♠️  Weekly Free Play Tuesdays • 6:30–8:30 PM @ Indigo Reef Brewing Co. (Clements Ferry) Thursdays • 6:30–8:30 PM @ Edisto River Brewing Co. (Johns Island) πŸ†  2nd & 4th Sunday Tournaments 1:00–3:00 PM @ Indigo Reef $10 entry • $50 cash for 1st • $25 Indigo gift card for 2nd ✓ No partner or RSVP needed — just show up ✓ All skill levels welcome ✓ Fast-paced, low-pressure games with friendly people ✓ Great beer, great venues, and plenty of laughs Whether you're new to Charleston or new to Euchre, there's a seat at the table for you. πŸ‘‰  Explore the site  to see the full schedule, FAQ...
Read more

Why Euchre Is the Ultimate Icebreaker Game (Even If You’re Shy)

Image
If you're new to Charleston, trying to meet people, or just tired of small talk at bars — Euchre might be the perfect solution. It’s not just a card game. It’s an easy, fast-paced social experience that brings people together. Here’s why Euchre is the ultimate icebreaker, even if you’re shy: ♠️ No Pressure to Be the Life of the Party In Euchre, the cards do most of the talking. You’re focused on the hand, the play, and your next move. That means there’s never awkward silence — and you don’t need to be a social butterfly to connect with others. ♥️ Instant Teamwork Each game pairs you with a partner. You work together to win tricks and outsmart your opponents. Even if you don’t say much, the shared challenge builds instant camaraderie — and that connection continues round after round as partners rotate. ♦️ Natural Conversation Starters Not sure what to say? Talk about the hand you just played, joke about getting euchred, or share a quick strategy tip. Euchre naturally sparks conversa...
Read more