EUCHRE, filer, a game of cards, regard ing the origin of which nothing definite is known. For a long time it was the most gener ally played parlor game after whist in the United States. The pack of cards consists of 32, but sometimes only 24 are used, being an ordinary "deck." minus the deuce, trey, four, five and six spots of each suit. The game is usually played by two, three or four persons, the most interesting party being four, two. play ing on each side as partners. When choice of partners and first dealer has been decided five cards are dealt, usually two at once, then three, or the contrary. Having dealt five cards to each player, the dealer turns up the next card for trumps, leaving it, face upward, on top of the balance of the pack. The cards rank in value as follows: The best euchre card is the knave of trumps ; the second best is the knave of the suit of the same color as the trump. The former card is called the aright bower,° the latter the "left bower.° After the right and left bowers the cards rank as at whist, the knaves of the color not turned as trumps fall ing into their regular place as at whist. The object of the game is to take tricks. The score is five points, unless otherwise agreed. In two handed euchre the following rules apply : The non-dealer may "pass," or "order up° the trump. Should he pass, then the dealer may take up the trump and discard. In that case the dealer must make three tricks or be "euchred,° which counts two points for the adversary, but if he makes the three tricks (or four), he counts one point. Should he make all five tricks, it is termed "a march,* and counts him two on the score. The non-dealer has the first lead, after which he who takes the trick leads. Suit must be followed if possible ; otherwise any card may be played. Should the non-dealer °order upx' the tnimp he must make three tricks or be "euchred,° which counts two for his opponent, if he win three tricks (or four), having ordered up the trump, he scores one point. Should he
make "'a march,° he scores two. If both players pass (the dealer turning down the trump), and then both decline to malce a trump, there must be a new deal. Either party nam ing a new suit for tnunp must make the three tricks or be ueuchred.° In four-handed euchre the same counts are made and the same rules practised as in the two-handed game, together with the following: The opportunity to "pass,0 °order up," °assist° or °play alone° goes around in rotation, beginning with the player on the left of the dealer. "To assist" is for the partner of the dealer to say. "I assist," which has the same effect as ordenng up the trump, and is subject to the penalty of two points to the adversary, should three tricks not be se cured by the party "assisting° and his partner. Either partner ordering up a trump or malcing a trump may "play alone,° that is, play his hand singly against the other two, his partner not playing his hand that round at all. "Progressive euchre°. is played by a number of participants at separate tables, the successful players mov ing up in a regular order. A prize is generally awarded to the two winners. There are also a number of other varieties: Railroad, French, Call-Ace or Australian Euchre, and Napoleon. Consult Cady, A. H., 'Euchre' (in (Spalding's Home Library,' Vol. I, No. 6, New York 1895) ; Foster, R. F., (Call-Ace Euchre' (London 1904) ; id., (Foster's Complete Hoyle, etc.' (New York 1914) ; Jessel, F., 'A Bibliography of Works in English on Playing Cards and Gaming' (London 1905) ; Seaver, C. M., (The Standard Guide to Progressive Euchre) (Bos ton 1885).