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.
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:
- The Left Bower table — this trips up beginners most often
- The scoring table — know what’s at stake before every call
- 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 |