I've been playing Bid Euchre since the late 1950's. I've taught many people to play the game. I have created this page to give new players a better understanding of the rules of Bid Euchre. There are many variations of Bid Euchre. These are the rules my family and I have always used. When new players first hear about the rules of the game, the comment "This sounds complicated" is sometimes made. The left and right bowers are usually a point of initial confusion. After a few hands, most people change their opinion of it being complicated. It is simple enough that a conversation can be had while playing. — Steve

1. Game Equipment

Two standard 52 card packs should be stripped to make a deck of 48 cards (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9 of each suit) - (a Pinochle Deck can be used).

2. Object

The game is for four participants, playing two against two as partners. Partners will sit across from each other at the table.

The goal is to take at a minimum, the number of tricks you have bid. It is acceptable and desirable to take more tricks than you have bid.

The first team to reach or exceed 52 points wins. See XXX if both teams exceed 52 points.

3. Rank of cards.

The highest trump is the jack of the trump suit, called the "right bower." The second-highest trump is the jack of the other suit of the same color called the "left bower." (Example: If diamonds are trumps, the right bower is and left bower is .) The remaining trumps rank as follows: A (high), K, Q, 10, 9. The remaining (non-trump) suits, rank as follows: A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9. A trump card of any value always ranks above a non-trump card.

A participant may also bid no trump high or no trump low. With no trump high the rank of the cards is A, K, Q, J, 10, 9. With no trump low the rank of the cards is 9, 10, J, Q, K, A.

The "left bower" becomes the suit of the current trump as far as following suit is concerned. For example, if diamonds are trumps, the "left bower " is considered a diamond. If a is lead and a following player has no trump other than the , then that player must follow suit with the .

Due to there being two of each card, the first card played is the high card (if the Ace of Spades is played first, it would beat the other Ace of Spades if it was played during the same round).

4. Scoring

A team scores points by capturing tricks. The bidding team must capture minimally the number of tricks they bid, otherwise they are 'euchred'. If the bidding team is 'euchred', they lose points equal to the number of tricks they bid. If they are not 'euchred', they earn points equal to the number of tricks captured. The opposing team always earns points equal to the number of tricks captured. In addition, a team may loose 24 points if they "Skip the Moon" and are euchred. (See the "Skip the Moon" instructions in the bidding section below)

Here are some scoring scenarios:

Win the bid and get at least the number of tricks bid.
Score one point for each trick taken.
Example - Bid 5 tricks and take 7 tricks then score 7 points.

Win the bid and does NOT get at least the number of tricks bid.
Subtract the number of points bid.
Example - Bid 5 tricks and take 4 tricks then subtract 5 points.

"Skip the Moon" and not get all 12 tricks
Subtract 24 points.

"Skip the Moon" with no cards passed from the partner and get all 12 tricks
Score 24 points.

"Skip the Moon" with 1 card passed from the partner and get all 12 tricks
Score 18 points.

"Skip the Moon" with 2 cards passed from the partner and get all 12 tricks
Score 14 points.

5. Dealing the cards

Shuffling
The dealer must shuffle the cards prior to dealing. The deck must be shuffled a minimum of 5 times. The pack is (optionally) cut by the player to the dealer's right. The cut must not leave less than four cards in each packet.

Dealing
The cards are dealt clockwise, to the left, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. Each player receives 12 cards. The dealer may give a round of three at a time, then a round of two at a time, or may give two, then three; but the dealer must adhere to whichever distribution plan he begins with. After the first deal, the deal passes to the player on the dealer's left.

6. Bidding

The bidding starts with the player to the left of the dealer and goes around the table clockwise one time only (each player bids one time only). Bids consist of a number of tricks (4-12), and a suit (i.e. 5 Spades ). No-trump bids are also permissible, with the cards being ace as the highest ranking card or ace as the lowest ranking card. So a bid may be 5 Low or 7 High, for example. The lowest possible bid is "4". Each number bid must be higher than the previous one. If you do not wish to bid higher, you may pass. You may also "Skip the Moon". When a team "Skips the Moon", the bidding ends.

Skip the Moon
A team may also "Skip the Moon" whereby only 1 partner of a team plays and the other partner sits out the hand. The team must get all 12 tricks or they are penalized by 24 points. When it is a person's turn to bid they will declare "I'm going to Skip the Moon". When declaring, they may place 0, 1 or 2 hards face down in front of them. Without looking at the face down cards, the declarers partner should pass the appropriate number of cards to their partner. The discarded cards are set aside and may not be viewed by any of the players. See the scoring section to view the number of points awarded for a successful "Skip the Moon".

7. The Play

The opening lead is made by the player who won the bid. If he can, each player must follow suit to a lead. If unable to follow suit, the player may trump or discard any card. A trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, or, if it contains trumps, by the highest trump. The winner of a trick leads next.

8. Winning the Game

The first team to reach or exceed 52 points wins the game unless both teams reach or exceed 52 points. If both teams exceed 52 points in a hand, the team that won the bid for that hand is the winner even if they have less points than the other team.

9. Reneging

Failure to follow suit when you can do so is called a renege. You must correct a renege before the winner gathers the trick. If another player identifies a renege, the offending player shall subtract 6 points from their score and drop out of this hand. The winner of the hand shall be determined by ignoring the play by the player who reneged. Normally penalty points are not used if the play can be corrected without affecting who wins the hand.

10. Other Rules

Talking across the table
It is not permitted to give hints of any kind to any player during bidding or during play. It is acceptable to discuss the hand after the hand has been completed (all 12 cards played).

Completed Tricks
After a trick has been completed, the player who took the trick must gather the trick and place it face down in front of them. Quitted (completed) tricks can not be turned face up for review with the following exception. The last quitted trick may be turned face up for review if requested by anyone at the table. After review, it must be turned back over before the next trick is played.

11. Strategies

Part of the game lies in memorizing the cards played. You have to think about who may have what cards left to determine what to lead and what to throw away, when you have a choice.

A good first lead is an ace of a non-trump card if you don't have the highest trump.

If you plan to lead a trump, make sure it is high enough to take the trick or it will be wasted.