harvoneuchre1

1. Ordering up the right bower to the dealer is often unwise. You need to possess some extra trump strength to consider ordering-up because you are guaranteed to lose one trick to the bower. If you have the other bower and a little help in the same color, you might choose to refer to the next point (#2) instead.

2. You can pass on a good hand knowing that if the others also knock, you'll be first to name trump. If they pick-up, euchre them if possible. If not, order "next" (explained in detail in the second round, first seat).

3. If you're going to order up here, you'll always want to at least consider going alone. With the opening lead, you can wreak havoc upon your opponents with solo bids.

4. If you want to get technical - breakdown of this position

1. Don't order-up a bower to your partner unless you go alone (and unless your partner doesn't always pick up bowers). You might deny him the chance to score four points. If you order it alone, you automatically promote your trump by burying it.

2. Don't make plans to wait and order on the second round, it's unlikely to get back to you. This is especially true if you hold a loner. The euchre deck is so small, that many times when a player is holding a strong hand, another player has a potential loner in the other color.

3. For the most part, being a "silent" partner is usually best. Although there are many exceptions, you'll more often be correct to let your partner decide the fate of the upcard.

4. Perhaps the best time to "assist" is when your partner has an ace (or less) up and you hold three low potential trumps but no aces or jacks in your side suits. The main reason you order here is because you have no defense in anything else.

1. Don't order from this seat unless you are really packing! This is the hardest seat to order from. To give your opponent a chance to discard a "rag" for a trump card and then act last (after you) can be euchre suicide.

2. Nothing short of a "Lay Down" should be attempted alone from third seat. Even if it looks likely to make it solo, if you don't have the top three trump and some ace strength, consider going for two points with your partner. Of course the score may force you to try alone, you are in a position where the opponents can make a mess out of your side suits and cross-ruff you to pieces.

1. Always pick up a bower as the dealer. That is unless you have a sure stopper in all three other suits (or your partner doesn't know not to order you up unless he goes alone). This is a convention mentioned in Natty Bumppo's "The Columbus Book of Euchre".

2. Loners are fun and easy from here. Discard your lowest junk and see what your opponents and partner play before you have to decide what to lay on 'em.

3. Weak hands can often squeak by. Not enough can be said about the power of being able to discard for trump and then act last on the opening hand. Pick-up whenever you can and go alone if it looks at all possible (and as long as it jives with the score).

4. Discard to create voids, but keep your Aces. When there is a decision to make in which card to get rid of, choose one that creates a void (unless it is an ace singleton, keep that) first then choose the "next" (same color as trump) suit. Eeney-meenie miney moe works well too in the event of a tie.

1. Bid "next" (the suit the same color as the one turned down) whenever you feel comfortable with it.

I know quite a few players who will bid next with only two trump and a side ace (maybe less), especially if the opponent turned down a bower or an ace.

They then lead their largest trump, hoping to see the solo bower appear in their partner's hand, tapping out the opponents in the process. This is a bit of a gamble, but there are many times that a weak "next" bid will actually score. The concept of "next" works better the bigger the former upcard. The fact that the opponents failed to pick-up indicates possible strength for this color in your partner's hand. Determining exactly how weak of a hand one should try to bid in this scenario is truly a matter of one's own personal gut feeling and experience. back to top

2. Go alone often, fearlessly. Having the lead during a loner is great! Suck that trump out and kick ass with your side suits.

3. Beware of bidding "Green". Bidding "Green" means bidding a suit that is not the same color as the former upcard. You are basically on your own when you do this because you have no indication of what the other players hold in this color. Most likely the opponents turned down the last color because they have more strength in the "green" suits. Enter at your own risk.

1. Bid reverse next (a green suit) with a holding of King, 9 of trump with a side ace or better. This is known as the "K-9 kicker" and is explained in full here.

2. Avoid mediocre lone calls here. Although your partner chose not to pick-up and first seat failed to order, third seat might have the remaining good cards and is in the best position possible to stop your loner. Experience tells me to play with my partner if I have a hand that only might make it alone (unless the score demands one). Besides, your partner gets to act last on the opening lead as long as he's in it.

1. Once again, don't go alone unless you're packing a "Whopper" (a "Big Mac" just won't do). All the passes indicate weak hands (except in the dealer's). Unfortunately, a loner from here begs to be set. You can easily be stopped by a cheap shot on the opening trick and cross-ruffs could euchre you.

2. Cautiously bid a medium hand with your partner. Your partner still gets the lead and might be able to produce a missing bower or other trump that locks up a point. You have to try a two suiter with three trump even if all the cards are low, but don't expect to sweep.

3. It's often wise to simply pass when playing "Stick the Dealer". In STD, the dealer must name trump at the second round and it may benefit you to force them to try a weak one. As long as your hand isn't excellent, you could just pass and bring your defense out on the field.

1. Call anything that might fly (as long as the score can afford it). Everyone has passed, thus indicating weak hands around. The hooks might (for the most part) all be buried in the kitty so bidding a weak hand with hope that your partner can help might be better than surrendering the deal. This choice must of course be dictated by the score (don't bid weak while up 9-8 for example).

2. When playing STD, bid a suit that you have some of, leaving yourself aces for side suits if possible. Say you deal yourself 9 and 10 of hearts, Ace spades, Ace and ten of clubs. After turning down diamonds and three more passes come to you, sticking you with a manditory call, bid hearts (and cross your fingers). Lead trump when you can to help the chances of cashing your Aces. This is what your partner is there for.

When it comes to bidding at euchre, one must;

1) Consider the score (unless an 8 hand tourney).

2) Evaluate the hand strength.

3) Consider the position

4) Have a plan on how to play the hand.

All four points above are equally important, however, #'s 2 and 3 can almost be considered one and the same. The strength of one's hand really can't be fully determined without taking into account the position the hand is in.