House rules
The rules some tables add, as the Semi-Official page and pagat.com list them. None is in the base rules, so agree on them before the first deal.
What is a farmer’s hand?
The Semi-Official page: a player dealt three nines or three tens may swap them for the three face-down cards of the kitty before saying anything about the turned card. Some tables allow any three nines and tens.
What is ace no face?
The Semi-Official page: a player dealt one ace and no face cards may say so, everyone’s cards are thrown in, and the same dealer deals again.
What is no first blood?
The Semi-Official page: no trump may be led to the first trick.
What is partner’s best, or railroading?
When a player goes alone, the partner passes them a card. The Semi-Official page calls it partner’s best. pagat.com’s railroading: the partner passes their best card face down, and the lone player either takes it and discards one, or discards it unseen.
What is a super euchre?
pagat.com: when the makers take no trick at all, some tables give the defenders 4 points instead of 2.
What is five-point Euchre?
The game played to 5 instead of 10. The Semi-Official page: most keep its score with a three and a two. Bicycle allows 5, 7 or 10, agreed before the game.
Must the dealer hold a trump to pick it up?
pagat.com: some tables play that the dealer may take up the turned card only when already holding a trump, the left bower not counting.
What is 32-card Euchre?
The pack with the eights and sevens added as the lowest cards, 32 cards in all. pagat.com: the usual game in New Zealand, and still played by a few in the USA.
What is British Euchre?
pagat.com: a joker joins the pack as the highest trump, the Benny, and the game goes to 11. The dealer’s partner can make the turned suit trump only by playing alone.
Which house rules does the app play?
Five rule sets, chosen on the Play the computer sheet or when you start a friends table. Rated games play Standard or Quick, each with its own rating.
- Standard (rated play): In round 2 the dealer may not pass, so every hand is played. The set the Midwest leagues play.
- Throw-in: Nobody scores and the next player deals. The rules as Hoyle and pagat.com give them.
- Ontario: You need a trump in hand to order it up, the left bower included. The dealer's partner who orders it up plays alone.
- Defend alone: When a maker goes alone, one defender may too. A lone defender who euchres them scores 4.
- Quick (rated play): A short game: the first team to 5 wins.
The farmer’s hand, ace no face, no first blood, partner’s best and the super euchre are not among them.
In the app
If your family plays differently is the last part of the app’s Learn path: the same five rule sets, read on the phone.
Sources: the Semi-Official Euchre Home Page, Special Rules; pagat.com, North American Euchre and Variations; Bicycle, Card Values/scoring.