| Annual Holiday Quiz – The Answers!
1. In which country is a version of Euchre played with a Joker (called the "Benny")?
Answer: Great Britain
2. What is the most popular format of Euchre featured at live tournaments with large numbers of players?
Answer: Progressive (usually eight rounds of eight hands each).
3. Besides yours truly, name four other authors who have published Euchre books during the past fifty years.
Answer: Joseph Wergin, John Ellis, Thomas Gallagher, Natty Bumppo, Gary Martin and John Keller, to name a few.
4. Where in the United States did the French originally introduce the game of Euchre?
Answer: New Orleans, LA. (This has been disputed).
5. Name five of the six U.S. states where Euchre is most frequently played.
Answer: Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.
6. Who is John Scarne? What is his claim to fame?
Answer: Scarne is well-known author of card game books, and an expert on Poker.
7. What was the Number 1 card game in the United States from 1850 - 1900?
Answer: Euchre
8. What is the "Dutchman's" hand? (Be specific!)
Answer: Holding Right Bower, Left Bower, and the Ace of trump. The other two cards are losers; thus this hand will take exactly three tricks and no more.
9. What is the difference between a March and a Sweep?
Answer: Both words are synonymous with the taking of five tricks in the same hand.
10. If you are sitting in the South seat as Dealer, in what direction (North, West or East) does the "Eldest" hand sit?
Answer: The Eldest hand is the person to the immediate left of the dealer.
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?
Answer: The Left (Bower) is not considered a "natural" trump.
12 Barring hackers, why can there never be a renege (revoke) or lead out of turn when playing on-line?
Answer: "On - line" games are programmed to require any given suit to be followed when possible. There is no option to discard if you hold a card in the original led suit. The computer program also forces the person on lead (the winner of the previous trick) to play first to the next trick.
13. The word bower comes from which similarly-sounding German equivalent?
Answer:
The term "bower" comes from German "bauer", which is the rough equivalent for a peasant, or a farmer. Some sources also state that it is the same as a "pawn".
The contest winner is "Alan R", who answered ten questions correctly. Honorable mentions go to "Debbie C" and "Karen H", who each answered nine questions correctly.
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| The World Series of Euchre will take place on September 8-10, 2006, in Lansing, MI. Two separate events – Round Robin and Partners sections. Check out www.grandprixtournaments.com for more details.
I’d like to close this year's Euchre columns with a list of my favorite Euchre people (hosts or players) from the past ten years (randomly listed, in no particular order).
1. Harvey Lapp (A dedicated promoter/player who has a terrific Euchre web site!)
2. Joe Wergin (Deceased expert Cribbage author, who also wrote a Euchre book)
3. Laurie S ("Gloopy") - (Canadian Euchre organizer of "live" events / tournaments)
4. Tom Kartovicky - (Euchre player from western PA who is the "spirit of the game")
5. "Ranger" Rick - (Euchre player from Ohio, who is the "King of Loners!)
6. Tony & Sonia Boudria (Canadian residents and organizers of Euchre parties)
7. Rick Reed (Disabled player who was a finalist at the '05 Grand Prix Nationals)
8. Beth Cole - (Congenial Euchre player from Michigan; hosts a Euchre Web Site)
9. Darlene Migli - (The director/organizer of two large annual IN Euchre events)
10. David Gnau - (Winner of the 2004 Grand Prix Individuals Round Robin event)
It has been a lot of fun writing this column!
Have a great Holiday Season! | |
