Euchre Strategy Tips

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!