The Toxic Trump Twist
Choose trump suit and follow suit exactly as in Euchre. Change only which card wins each trick:
- If a non-trump is led: The highest card of the led suit wins. A trump card cannot win that trick.
- If trump is led: Any non-trump played beats every trump. The highest-ranking non-trump wins, regardless of its suit. If the highest non-trump ranks tie, the first one played wins.
- If only trump suit cards are played: The highest trump wins.
Card ranks
Trump, low to high: 9 · 10 · Q · K · A · Left Bower · Right Bower
Non-trump, low to high: 9 · 10 · J · Q · K · A
The Left Bower is always trump, even though its printed suit is different. You may play a non-trump on a trump lead only when you have no trump to follow.
Trumpy Reverse option
Flip the trump ranking: 9 is highest and Right Bower is lowest. All other rules stay the same.
New to Euchre? Start Here
- 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.