EUCHRE, (apparently from Ger. Juchs, joke, from the 'joker' in the pack, from MHG. juch, ju, an exclamation of joy). A game of cards said to be of German origin. hut now very popular in the United States. Usually thirty-two cards are used, the twos, threes, fours, fit-es. and sixes being rejected, but sometimes sevens and eights are also thrown out. Before the game is started the players cut for deal, ace high dealing, after which the eards are cut by the person at the right of the dealer. Five cards are dealt to each player, by two at a time, and three at a time, or vice versa. The dealer turns up the top of the undealt cards for trumps. In suits not trumps, the cards rank as at whist, from ace down; in the, trump suit the knave (termed the right bower) is the highest trump, and the other knave of the same color, either black or red (termed the left bower), is the next highest, this card being, of course, omit ted from the suit to which it would otherwise belong. The best form of the game is when played by four persons; but two, three, or even more than four persons may play. if the rules be adapted accordingly. In two-handed euchre the non-dealer looks at his hand and decides whether he will play it. If he be satisfied and think he can make three tricks, he 'orders up.' The dealer then discards his lowest and least useful card, and takes the trump card into his band; in this. case, however, the dealer must succeed in taking three tricks, or he is 'euchred.' and his opponent scores two points. If the non-dealer be not satis fied with his hand, he says 'pass.' The dealer then has the option of taking up the trump as before, or of passing also. If the trump be ordered up or taken up, the play of the hand com mences; if both players pass, the dealer places the trump card face upward underneath the pack, called 'turning it down.' The non-dealer has then the privilege of naming the suit which shall he trumps, which must be another than that previously turned up. If he 'make' a trump he must succeed in taking three tricks or he is euchred; but if he pass it again, the dealer has the option of making it. If both pass a second time, the hand is thrown up, and the other player deals. When the card turned up is red, and the trump is made red, it is called 'making it next': the same with black. If the trump he made a
different color from the turn-up, it is called 'crossing the suit.' If the hand be played. the non-dealer leads; the dealer plays to the card led. He must follow suit if able, otherwise he may play any card he pleases. The highest card of the suit led wins the trick; tromps win other suits. The winner of the trick leads to the next. If a player make all five tricks he scores a 'march,' equal to two points; if he make three or four tricks he scores one point. In three handed euchre the option of playing or passing goes to each inn rotation, beginning with the player to the dealer's left. The player who orders up, takes up. or makes the trump. plays against the other two, and if they succeed in euchring him, each of them scores two points. This is often termed 'cut-throat euchre,' bemuse any one of the three players is liable to he -op posed by the other two. Four-handed euchre is generally played with partners, who are cut for and sit opposite each other as at whist ; if a player have a strong hand he can deeide to 'play alone' single-handed against the two adversaries, and his partner cannot object ; a player cannot order up his partner's trump unless he plays alone. Should the lone player succeed in making a march he scores four; if he win three or four tricks he scores one; if he fail to win three tricks the opponent scores two. Sometimes, as in rail road euchre, a blank card called 'little joker' or 'the joker' is added, and is the highest card in the pack, the bowers following; sometimes it is agreed upon to allow the player who makes more than five points to carry the surplus (called a lap) to the next game; or to allow a 'lone' player to call for his partner's best card. In French euchre only 24 cards are used, all below the nines being discarded. Another French va riety called 'Napoleon' has been very popular in England in the last twenty years. After the deal the players are called upon in rotation to declare how many tricks they can take, the dealer last unless some other player shall have declared be can take the whole five tricks; if he does not, he is euchred; if he does, he collects double chips from each player; if less than five tricks is the highest bid, and he wins the number lie declares, he collects single chips from each player.