Euchre
Euchre is a card game for two to six people that is a modification of the Écarté . Usually it is played by four people. Euchre is a popular card game in England and America. In Germany, however, this game is less well known, although it was brought to America by immigrants of German origin. The following description deals primarily with the four-player game.
Historical background
The origins of the popular card game Euchre go back to 1860, when German immigrants in Michigan, USA, brought a card game with them from their homeland: the Juckerspiel. The game of itch, for its part, was based on the rules of Skat, and the basics of the game of Skat can still be recognized today in the Euchre. The German origin can also be recognized in the boys, who are actually called Jacks in English, but are referred to as peasants in the Euchre game (occasionally also Bower).
From Michigan, Euchre spread across North America and was then transported by seafarers to England and even to Australia, where it is still one of the most popular card games to this day.
Basically there are two versions, one the Euchre and the other the English Euchre , which is played with an additional joker. Euchre is considered to be the very first card game to be played with a joker (in this case the highest card value). The reason for this was the different production methods of the playing cards:
For the first time in England a complete offset sheet was used with either 33 or 55 playing card imprints, which were then cut. Eleven cards were placed next to each other so that the surplus cards (33 cards were one surplus card, 55 cards were three surplus cards) were used as a cover sheet, as a card with rules of the game or as a joker (Benny).
Game material
| French leaf colors | |||
| Diamonds | heart | Spades | cross |
|
|
|
|
Euchre is traditionally played with 25 cards with a French picture. To do this, the values two to eight are removed from a poker hand or the values seven and eight from a skat hand. In addition to the remaining 24 playing cards, a joker is required. If no joker is available, it can be replaced by any of the rejected cards. Often this is the two of hearts or the two of spades.
Hierarchy of cards
Trumps
The joker, which is also called "Benny" at the Euchre, is always the highest trump card. The jack of the trump suit, also known as the “right pawn”, acts as the second highest trump . In third place is the so-called “left pawn”, i.e. the jack who has the same coloration as the trump suit. (If, for example, hearts are trumps, the jack of hearts is the right pawn and the jack of diamonds is the left pawn, since diamonds and hearts are colored red. The same applies to the jacks of the black colors of clubs and spades.) The other trumps act as trumps Values Ace > King > Queen > 10 and 9 in the respective trump suit.
Stabbing power
The order of the remaining cards in the non-trump suits is when tripping (starting with the highest card value): Ace> King> Queen> Jack> 10s> 9s. It should be noted, however, that the non-trump suit that has the same coloration as the trump suit is reduced by the jack: Ace> King> Queen> 10s> 9s
Game objective
The aim of the Euchre game is to get at least the majority of the tricks, i.e. three in number. Additional prizes are awarded for reaching all the tricks and for the game alone (see below ).
Style of play
Card distribution
After shuffling and taking off, the playing cards are dealt counter-clockwise, i.e. to the left. Each of the Euchre players receives five cards, which are dealt in two throws: first each player receives three, then two more cards. The remaining cards are set aside face down as a talon . The top talon card is turned over and determines the trump suit. If the card showing the trump is a joker, the trump suit is determined by the dealer, but before he has picked up his own cards.
Bidding process
Starting with the player in the forehand position, the players now have to declare whether they want to play a game. If a player is unable to take over the game because of his cards in hand, he declares: “I pass!” However, if a player thinks he can take at least three tricks, he says: “I'll take the game” or "I ask for". In this case the card showing the trump remains face up - but as part of the dealer's cards.
However, if all players pass, the dealer turns over the card that determines the trump and forehand starts a new auction round. Now, however, the trump suit can be determined by the players. The player who now names a trump suit, together with his partner, forms the playing party. If again no player agrees to take over the game, the next player deals again. If the joker has been revealed as a trump card, the second auction round is invalid if there is general abstention in the first bidding round. Furthermore, in this case the dealer must announce the trump suit without being allowed to look at his own cards beforehand.
Play alone (solo)
If a player thinks he can win even without a partner, he immediately declares when accepting the game: “I'm playing alone!” Or “Up, down!” The declarer's partner then places his cards face down on the table (he puts his cards “ down ”) and the dealer exchanges the card determining the trump for an unsuitable card (he“ picks up ”the card indicating the trump). However, the announcer's partner can also declare that they will play alone. A player from the opposing party can also respond to the announcement of a solo game with “I'll play alone!”. If the dealer has already added the card determining the trump suit to his hand, he may under no circumstances call a solo. The solo only receives a special award if the declarer manages to march through, that is, if he wins all the tricks.
Rating
Points are awarded to the parties based on the number of tricks won and taking into account whether a solo is being played. Euchre tournaments are played until one party has reached 21 points. So at least 21 points must be achieved per game. In the tournament Euchre, the winner is the party that has won two games. In family circles, only eleven points per game are often common.
Gambling party's wins
- 3 or 4 tricks received: 1 point
- achieved all 5 tricks: 2 points
- Declarer takes all 5 tricks: 4 points
- Benny as trump card: a maximum of 2 points
Opposing party wins
Older version
- playing party takes less than 3 tricks: 2 points
- Declarer does not get 5 tricks: 4 points
This is now an outdated form of billing that is rarely used.
New version
In most regions declarers win one point for three or four tricks, for less than three tricks the opposing party wins two points.
Punishments
If the party does not admit it correctly, the party concerned will be punished with two points.
variants
Railway Euchre
In this type of game, the partner of a player who wants to dare a solo can face down and push one of his cards to the solo player. The declarer exchanges this card for an unsuitable card. However, the solo player can do without pushing it shut. If the solo player then wins all the tricks, his playing party is awarded five points.
Two Euchre
In a two-man Euchre, forehand may always lead to the first trick. Apart from the fact that there are no partnerships, the rules of the game for four apply to this variant.
Triple Euchre
The declarer determines the trump suit and plays alone against the other players. In this variant, if three or four tricks are reached, the declarer is credited one point, while three points are awarded if he marches through. If the declarer loses, his opponents receive two points each. In this form of play, the first player to score five points wins.
English Euchre
The English Euchre is played with the joker, which is the highest card itself above the left and right jacks (bower). The name "English Euchre" does not mean that this game is preferably played in England, but because of the special manufacturing technology in 19th century England, a joker (Benny) was added here, for the first time in playing card history.
English Euchre is only played sporadically worldwide, and most of it in the Canadian province of Ontario.
American Euchre
The American Euchre is played without a joker.
American Five Hundred
American Five Hundred can be thought of as a variant of the Euchre, and it is also very closely related to Bridge, but it is much easier to learn. The game is available in different variants. The three-player game is played with 33 cards, including a joker. It is dealt 3- widow (3 cards) -4-3. Forehand begins with the bidding, everyone makes a bid or passes. Whoever wins the bidding has entered into the contract and becomes declarer. He picks up the widow and swaps her for three cards from his hand and determines the trump suit. The other two players form a temporary community, but count the tricks they have won separately (10 points per trick). The order of trumps is joker, right-bower, left-bower, ace, king, queen, 10, 9, 8, 7. (In the case of the suits that are not trumps, the jack is between queen and 10, or is missing [left bower].) If the declarer wins, he only gets as many points as he has bid, unless he wins all the tricks, then he gets 250 points (if his bid was lower). If the contract is not fulfilled, the bidder is set back by the value of the contract; if this results in minus points, a circle is drawn around the written number, the player is "in the hole" (cave, hole). Whoever reaches 500 points is the winner. Bid table values: 6 tricks: 40 of spades, 60 of clubs, 80 of diamonds, 100 of hearts, without trump 120, each additional trick increases the bid values by 100 points.
Euchre Online
The online Euchre is offered on several American servers and is based on the classic rules (two teams consisting of four players, without jokers).
literature
- Hugo Kastner, Gerald Kador Folkvord: The great Humboldt encyclopedia of card games. Humboldt, Baden-Baden 2005, ISBN 3-89994-058-X [1] .
- Matthias Mala : The big book of card games. Falken, Niedernhausen / Ts. 1997, ISBN 3-8068-7333-X .
- Euchre . In: Spielkartenfabrik Altenburg (Ed.): Extended game rules book from Altenburg. Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik Verlag, Leipzig 1983, p. 109 ff.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.pagat.com/euchre/500.html#american
- ^ Theodor Müller-Alfeld, card games, 24 popular games and variants, Ullstein book no. 74, original edition Frankfurt am Main, 1958, pages 99-102