Euchre: how to play

Euchre, the quick partnership card game played with 24 cards. You play as Bruno with Kip across the table, against Byte and a bot. Each level is one hand of five tricks and adds one rule, from ordering up to going alone.

How to play

• Everyone gets 5 cards from a 24-card deck (nines up to aces), and one card is turned up. Follow the suit led if you can; the highest trump, or else the highest card of the suit led, takes the trick.
• The jack of trumps (right bower) is the top card; the other jack of that colour (left bower) is next and counts as a trump.
• Calling trump: the turned-up suit can be ordered up (the dealer takes that card and throws one away). From the Sewer on, if all pass, a second round lets players name another suit. Use the suit buttons and PASS, or keys O and P.
• The team that calls trump needs 3 of the 5 tricks for 1 point, or all 5 (a march) for 2. If it fails, it's euchred and the other team gets 2.
• Tap a card to play it, or use ← → and Enter.
• Score on the hand to clear the level. A failed call or a sweep by the other team costs one of your three hearts; if they just make their call, it's a new deal.

The five levels

1. Neon City: trump is set for you: learn the bowers
2. Rooftops: order up: make the turned-up suit trump
3. Sewer: a second round: name any other suit
4. Robot Factory: go alone: all 5 tricks without your partner score 4
5. Glitch Zone: if everyone passes, the dealer must call

Clear the Glitch Zone and the levels loop again with opponents making a quarter fewer careless plays. You have three hearts for the whole run, and the game is the same for everyone each day, so you can compare scores. Press M to turn the sound off or on.

Tips

• Count trumps: there are seven, including the left bower.
• Call with a bower and two more trumps, or trumps plus an outside ace.
• When they call, you and Kip need just 3 tricks to euchre them.

Questions

What is a euchre?

Calling trump, then taking fewer than 3 tricks. The other team scores 2 points.

What does going alone mean?

From the Robot Factory on, whoever calls trump can play without a partner, who sits out. Take all 5 tricks alone for 4 points. Press ALONE before you call.

When do I lose a heart?

Only when your call is euchred or the other team takes all 5 tricks. Every new deal in a level also makes your opponents slip a little more.

Is it free?

Yes. Euchre is free in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download.