How to Play

New to Euchre? Don’t worry — you’ll pick it up fast.

It’s one of the best card games around: easy to learn, quick to play, and full of strategy and surprises. Here’s how it works:

🎴 The Basics
Euchre is played with four players in two teams of two. Partners sit across from each other. The deck uses only 24 cards — 9s through Aces — in all four suits. Each player is dealt 5 cards. The remaining 4 cards go in the center as the kitty, with the top card flipped face-up to start the bidding.

πŸƒ Choosing Trump
Starting to the dealer’s left, each player has one chance to accept or pass on the face-up card as trump. If someone accepts, the dealer picks it up and discards one card. If all players pass, a second round begins — this time, players can name a different suit as trump. If everyone passes again, the dealer must choose a suit. This is called Stick the Dealer.

♠️ Trump Suits & Bowers
The trump suit beats all others — and its Jacks are special.
• The Right Bower (Jack of trump) is the highest card in the game.
• The Left Bower (Jack of the same-color suit) is the second-highest and also counts as trump.
For example, if Hearts are trump, the Jack of Diamonds becomes the Left Bower and acts like a Heart.

♥️ Playing the Hand
The player to the dealer’s left leads the first card. Everyone must follow suit if they can. If you don’t have the suit led, you can play any 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 one.
Each hand has 5 tricks total.

♣️ Scoring Points
Points are awarded based on how many tricks your team wins and who called trump:
• Win 3 or 4 tricks: 1 point
• Win all 5 tricks (a “march”): 2 points
• Call trump and lose (get “euchred”): 2 points to opponents
• Go alone and win 3–4 tricks: 1 point
• Go alone and win all 5 tricks: 4 points
First team to reach 10 points wins the game.

♦️ Helpful Terms
• Trump – The suit that beats all others
• Right Bower – Jack of trump suit; highest card
• Left Bower – Jack of same-color suit; second-highest
• Trick – One round where each player plays a card
• Euchre – When the team that called trump loses
• Going Alone – Playing the hand without your partner for a chance at extra points

πŸ™Œ Tips for Beginners
It might sound like a lot, but once you play a round or two, it clicks quickly. Most new players get the hang of it within a few hands — and our members are always happy to help you learn in real time.

πŸ‘‰ Visit CHSEuchre.com for upcoming events, rules, FAQs, and community info.

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