Euchre quick reference: Trump suit ranks Right Bower (highest), Left Bower, A, K, Q, 10, 9. Non-trump ranks A, K, Q, J, 10, 9. Score: 3–4 tricks = 1 pt, all 5 (march) = 2 pts, loner = 4 pts, euchred = 2 pts to defenders. Minimum to call: 3 trump including a Bower. Lead trump when you called it. First to 10 points wins.

Table of Contents

This cheat sheet is designed to be printed and kept at the table while you’re learning euchre. It covers card rankings, scoring, bidding guidelines, and key rules in a compact format. Print it, cut it out, and keep it in your card case.

Printable Euchre Quick Reference

Card Rankings

Trump Suit (highest → lowest)

Rank Card Name
1st Jack of trump suit Right Bower
2nd Jack of same color as trump Left Bower
3rd Ace of trump
4th King of trump
5th Queen of trump
6th 10 of trump
7th 9 of trump

Non-Trump Suits: A (high) → K → Q → J → 10 → 9 (low)

Which Jack Is the Left Bower?

Trump Suit Right Bower Left Bower
♠ Spades Jack of Spades Jack of Clubs
♣ Clubs Jack of Clubs Jack of Spades
♥ Hearts Jack of Hearts Jack of Diamonds
♦ Diamonds Jack of Diamonds Jack of Hearts

The Left Bower belongs to the trump suit — it is NOT part of its printed suit.

Scoring

Outcome Points Who Scores
Making team wins 3 or 4 tricks 1 Makers
Making team wins all 5 (march) 2 Makers
Lone hand wins all 5 tricks 4 Makers
Lone hand wins 3–4 tricks 1 Makers
Makers euchred (win fewer than 3) 2 Defenders

First team to 10 points wins the game.

Minimum Bidding Requirements

Seat Minimum Hand to Call
1st (left of dealer) 3 trump incl. 1 Bower — opponents get the turn-up
2nd (dealer’s partner) 2 trump + off-suit Ace — YOUR dealer gets turn-up
3rd (right of dealer) 3 trump incl. 1 Bower, or 2 Bowers
Dealer 3 trump including the turn-up; can call lighter

Key Rules

  • Must follow suit — if you can follow the led suit, you must
  • Left Bower follows trump — the off-color Jack must follow a trump lead, not its printed suit
  • No table talk — partners cannot communicate signals, comments, or hints
  • Going alone — tell your partner to sit out before the first lead; win all 5 for 4 points
  • Euchred — if you called trump and win fewer than 3 tricks, opponents score 2 points
  • Kitty/discard — if you take up the turn card, discard one card face-down before play begins

Strategy Reminders

  • Lead trump when you called it (draws out opponents’ trump)
  • Don’t call on 2 low trump (high euchre risk)
  • Off-suit Aces are trick guarantees — play them early to stop your opponents from trumping them
  • Support your partner — if they called trump, help them reach 3 tricks; don’t take over
  • In the barn (9 pts): play conservatively, a single point wins the game

How to Use This Cheat Sheet

Print it: Use your browser’s print function (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P). The reference tables above will print cleanly.

Cut to card size: Trim around the reference section and keep it with your euchre deck.

Key things to memorize first:

  1. The Left Bower table — this trips up beginners most often
  2. The scoring table — know what’s at stake before every call
  3. The bidding minimums — avoid costly euchres with marginal hands

Once you’ve played 10–15 hands, you won’t need the sheet anymore. The rankings and scoring become automatic very quickly.

Understanding the Left Bower (The #1 Beginner Confusion)

The Left Bower is the single rule that confuses new euchre players more than any other. Here’s a concrete example:

Scenario: Hearts are trump for this hand.

  • The Jack of Hearts = Right Bower (highest card in the game)
  • The Jack of Diamonds = Left Bower (second-highest card — it’s now a heart for this hand)
  • The real Jack of Diamonds no longer exists as a diamond during this hand

This means:

  • If a diamond is led, the Jack of Diamonds cannot follow — it must follow as a trump (heart) if you play it
  • If trump is led, the Jack of Diamonds must follow since it’s a trump card
  • If you void yourself in diamonds for a ruff, the Jack of Diamonds is NOT available — it’s still in your trump suit

Burn this table into your memory and you’ve solved the hardest part of learning euchre.

Quick Glossary

Term Meaning
Right Bower Jack of trump — highest card
Left Bower Jack of same color as trump — second-highest
Kitty The 4-card undealt pile; top card is turned up
Maker The player (and partner) who called trump
Order it up Tell the dealer to take the turned card, making its suit trump
March Winning all 5 tricks — worth 2 points
Euchre Makers fail to win 3 tricks — defenders score 2
Loner Playing alone without your partner — 4 points for all 5 tricks
In the barn Having 9 points — one point from winning
Next Calling the same-color suit as the turned-down card
Cross it Calling the opposite-color suit in round 2