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Euchre Column of the Month – July  2000

By Joe Andrews

Euchre Variations and Local Rules

Euchre is one of those card games that are replete with variations and "local" rules. In this way, it is very kindred to Hearts and Spades. It is always best to familiarize yourself with the rules that are posted for a given "live" tournament or online event. You may not agree with a particular house rule, however, that is the way it goes. Perhaps you can politely discuss the variation of the game in question with the Tourney Director.

Here are my Top Five House Rule Variations for Euchre

1.       No Ace; No Play -- If you are dealt a hand which has no Ace, you have the option of requesting a re-deal. Another variation of this is "no trump; no play." Give me a break! How would you react if you had a sure "loner" hand with four top trump and a side Ace, and someone wanted to apply this "No Ace" rule? My advice to those with bad hands -- work it out!

2.       Stick the Dealer -- This variation is actually quite popular, and used by some of the Internet games sites as well. If there are three passes to the dealer on the second round of bidding, he must name the trump. The deal cannot be passed. This does create some interesting bidding strategy. I really do not object to this rule; however, it does alter the game. Passed out hands are relatively infrequent, and most alert dealers will often take up the trump on a borderline hand rather than risk a loner by an opponent (especially if the yare "at the Bridge," and the opponents have a score of 6 or 7 points).

3.       Alternate Dealing of Cards -- Most players are quite used to dealing three cards to each player, and then two, or a reverse combination. It sounds fine, and is very traditional. A good shuffle will mix the deck quite thoroughly. Everyone should receive five cards, and a better random distribution is one card at a time, as in most other games (Hearts, Spades, Poker, etc.) Then again, if the opponents insist on the traditional deal, it is not worth an argument.

4.       Discarding/Leading -- Some circles insist that the dealer must discard before the lead. If you are the dealer, and the third player is going alone (and orders the trump to you), you are required to wait for your partner to lead before making a discard. Sometimes, a careless left hand opponent will make a premature lead before you have discarded. (That can sure make life easy, eh?) This is why you should take a reasonable amount of time before completing your discard.

5.       Assisting -- The dealer's partner must call a "loner" if he orders the trump to his partner. This is such an inane rule, that it is not worthy of more comment.

Runner-Up and Honorable Mention Variations

The dealer may not pick up the trump (unless he has been ordered to do so) -- unless he has a trump card in his hand. And for the "variation on variation" department -- the left Bower does not count as a trump!

A Partnership must win by two points. If the score is tied at 9-9, and one Team wins one point on the next hand, the game continues until two points win the Match. It reminds me of Volleyball. I wonder if there are "side outs!"

If you have any other unusual or interesting local or house rules, e-mail me. I will be glad to list them in a future column!