Euchre Variations

The most common euchre variations are three-handed euchre, often called cut-throat euchre, and two-handed euchre. Each of these game variants has their own section below. The normal four-handed game, discussed on the main euchre page, used to keep the sevens and eights in the deck, and a few people still play it that way, so don't be completely surprised if you find a game like that.

Three-Handed Euchre - Cutthroat Euchre

In 3 handed euchre, each player keeps a separate score while playing for themselves. No player may declare that they are going alone, as each hand is played alone. When a player makes trump, they compete against the other two players, who form a temporary partnership for the current round only. The remaining rules for cutthroat euchre are the same as those of the four-handed variation. Scoring is similar to the normal game except when a player gets euchred, each of the two opponents receives two points and if the player who makes trump wins all five tricks, he or she wins three points instead of four.

It should also be noted that four-handed euchre can be played as cutthroat, but in my experience it does not make for as much fun as playing with a partner. There is also a method to start a four-handed game as cutthroat and be assigned a partner on each round. This is done by the person who names trump naming a different suit, and the player holding the highest card in the named suit is their partner. Recognize that you won't find out who your partner is until all of the tricks have been gathered at times, so this does add an interesting twist to the game. This is also called Call Ace euchre.

Two-Handed Euchre

2 handed euchre is the easiest variation to play, as the rules and scoring are exactly the same as the four-handed version except there is no alone situation. Though you may never run into it, if you play in a normal game where the sevens and eights are used, they are discarded before the game in two-handed euchre.

Other Euchre Variations

These variations usually are used in a four-handed game, but some of them can also be incorporated in the other variants listed above.

• Partners Best Alone Hand - In some games when a player announces they are going alone, they may give their partner their worst card and receive the partners best card back. Most people call this partners best, and you should clearly understand before the game starts if this is acceptable.
• Opposing Alone - This variation is usually only played in conjunction with the partners best variation above. If a player announces they are going alone, one of their opponents may announce that they are opposing, or defending alone. Then they may trade their worst card for their partners best card and face the alone player heads up. If the alone player gets euchred, the other team wins four points instead of two.
• Joker as High Trump - A single joker may be placed in the deck which acts as the highest trump no matter what suit is named trump. The rank of the joker is one spot above the right bower on every hand. Remember to agree on which suit the joker will represent if it is turned face up by the dealer before the game starts.
• No Trump - If all of the players pass the option to order up the face up card, in the following round a player may make trump "no trump". This means that each of the four suits is simply played with Ace high and the current round is played with no trump.