The best way to improve your euchre
play is practice. However, I have listed some basic euchre
strategy advice below that may help you while you are
practicing.
There are seven cards of the
trump suit available, with four cards buried. On average there
will be six trumps live and one buried, but of course all seven
can be in the four players hands. You should always count the
trumps as they are played so you know which ones can still be
played.
The weakest position is the
first player to the left of the dealer, often called the
"eldest" position. Rarely should you order up the exposed card
for trump unless you have three pretty sure tricks in your hand.
The reason this is the weakest position is that you will have no
information about the possible strength of any of the other
players hands before you must act. The advantage of this
position is when you have a strong hand that isn't quite good
enough to order up trump, you will be in a strong position to
euchre your opponents if they call trump and you have the first
option to make trump if they pass the option. For example,
if you have both red jacks and a Heart is turned up, you will
have the first option to call Diamonds, or a great chance to
euchre your opponents if they pick up the Heart. When a player
calls the other suit of the same color after the first round
trump, this is called the "next" suit.
When your partner names trump,
either through ordering or picking up the exposed card or
calling it in the second round, there are a few things you
should consider in your play. If you have the lead, unless you
have one of the bowers, you should usually lead an off-trump Ace
if you have one. When you have one of the bowers, it should
usually be lead so your partner finds out where it is located
and will have the option of how to play the rest of the hand.
If your partner calls trump and
has the lead and leads anything other than an Ace or trump, you
should trump it if you have the opportunity. Also, if he or she
leads an Ace, you should never trump it unless the opponent
between you has already laid trump on it.
Late in a game, there are
certain situations where it is better to name trump, even with a
poor hand, than to allow your opponents to name it. An example
is when one of your opponents deals and they have eight or nine
points. When you have any chance to win the hand, it is usually
better to name trump than allow your opponents to choose.
Another example is when you are leading nine to six or nine to
seven and one of your opponents is dealing. You may consider
ordering up the exposed card and taking a chance at being
euchred to keep them from going alone and possibly winning the
game. It will be either yours or your partners deal the next
hand and you always have an advantage when one of you are the
dealer.
You can usually count on your
partner to take one trick when you name trump. This is based on
average distribution of cards, so sometimes they won't take any
and sometimes they may take two, so bear this in mind. What this
means in real game play is when you have two sure tricks, or
relatively sure tricks, you will usually be safe naming trump.
Euchre can offer hours of great
family fun and entertainment and the best way to improve is by
playing. So round up the friends and family and get to work. Enjoy!
