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  Euchre Tips and Strategies

Euchre Column of the Month – November 2005

By Joe Andrews

An Interesting Hand

Here is one of those really neat plays which occurs every so often. This hand was played at an event in Canada. Check out this layout in which the up card was the Jack of Spades, the score was 6-6, and South (dealer) tried for a Loner.

South (dealer)

 9

 10

 J 9

 J

(10 of hearts was discarded and Jack of spades added)

West

 A K

 None

 A K 10

 None

North
(Hand immaterial, partner of a Loner hand)

East

 10

 K

 Q

 K 9

South was justified in reaching for a Loner as the opportunity to close out a "Tens" game was difficult to pass up. And his two suited hand with three trumps, including both Bowers, looked really good. West led his top diamond and when it rode through, he tried the King. This time, East dropped his stiff King of hearts. The diamond King also "walked through". The ten of diamonds was an interesting continuation for trick # 3. East trumped with his lowly (and apparently worthless) ten of spades. This card amazingly, enough, forced a Bower. And now the Ace of spades could not be shut out. The play of the spade ten "uppercut" South and the ultimate indignity was the Euchering of the opponent's Loner. As for the spade ten, it could be said "every dog has his day".

Annual Holiday Quiz

Win a commemorative t-shirt from the 7th Annual Grand Prix World Series of Euchre, four decks of Bicycle novelty cards, and a copy of my book, "The Complete Win At Euchre.” The first three entries submitted with the most correct answers will claim the prize (time/date of emails will determine the winners). Please send answers to: heartsmoon@aol.com Winners' names will be posted in the December column. Here are the questions:

1. In which country is a version of Euchre played with a Joker (called the "Benny")?

2. What is the most popular format of Euchre featured at live tournaments with large numbers of players?

3. Besides yours truly, name four other authors who have published Euchre books during the past fifty years.

4. Where in the United States did the French originally introduce the game of Euchre?

5. Name five of the six U.S. states where Euchre is most frequently played.

6. Who is John Scarne? What is his claim to fame?

7. What was the Number 1 card game in the United States from 1850 - 1900?

8. What is the "Dutchman's" hand? (Be specific!)

9. What is the difference between a March and a Sweep?

10. If you are sitting in the South seat as Dealer, in what direction (North, West or East) does the "Eldest" hand sit?

11. In tournaments which require possession of a "natural" trump in order to be able to pick up/or order the top card, is the singleton left bower in your hand considered a "natural" trump?

12 Barring hackers, why can there never be a renege (revoke) or lead out of turn when playing on-line?

13. The word bower comes from which similarly-sounding German equivalent?

Get those answers in pronto to heartsmoons@aol.com!

Happy Thanksgiving!