First, the Euchre basics
- Teams and deck: Four players, with partners sitting opposite. Use the 9, 10, J, Q, K and A of each suit (24 cards). Set aside the deck’s other cards; the 4s and 6s can keep score.
- Deal: Deal five cards to each player. Leave four cards as the kitty and turn its top card face up.
- Choose trump suit: Starting left of the dealer, players may order up the face-up card’s suit or pass. If ordered up, the dealer picks up that card and discards one. If everyone passes, turn the card down and go around again; a player may name any other suit. If everyone passes again, redeal with the next dealer.
- Play five tricks: The player left of the dealer leads. Play clockwise; everyone must follow the led suit if able. Otherwise, play any card. The winner leads the next trick.
The Jack of trump is the Right Bower. The Jack of the other suit of the same color is the Left Bower; it counts as trump for following suit.
Score each hand
| Trump-calling team wins 3 or 4 tricks | 1 point |
| Trump-calling team wins all 5 | 2 points |
| Trump-calling team wins fewer than 3 | 2 to defenders |
| Player goes alone and wins all 5 | 4 points |
Before the first lead, a player may choose to go alone; their partner sits out the hand. Otherwise, score the hand as above. First team to 10 points wins.