Thanks for checking out the Northern Suburbs Euchre Group! Our events have been fun with new friendships and lots of laughs! This is a very casual group and at any skill level, we are happy to welcome you! We have taught many how to play, so don’t feel intimidated if you are a new or skilled player, come to have fun!
On Tuesdays, we meet at the indoor patio at Timothy O’Tooles in Lake Villa. Happy hour goes until 5:30. Come early if you want to socialize and take advantage of the happy hour pricing. You are NOT obligated to purchase anything but consider ordering something since we are not charged to use the patio. If Becky is hosting, she’ll be there by 5:30. Bryan may not arrive until 5:50.
Please RSVP as it helps to plan name tags. If you add a guest, please message the host their name and skillset. Be advised that Euchre night is individual play. You may bring a guest, but you might not play as partners. It is a small dedicated area, so you’ll still feel connected to your guest throughout the night. Also, don’t rely on the numbers shown in Meetup to determine your own RSVP. There are usually more people coming than what’s shown in Meetup as we use other apps too!
You may find other groups have different rules for certain things, but the fundamentals of the game are followed and points awarded accordingly.
We play 4 timed rounds starting at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30. Sometimes we’ll start another round at 8:00. Please be there by 5:55. If you arrive after a start time, you will play at the next start time. At 5:55, you will draw a ‘card’. The card will have a number and one of the four suits. The number will match a number on each table. The same color suits will be partners. Becky or Bryan will coach new players, as needed.
To start, a player will deal one card at a time to each player. The first jack of either color is the 1st dealer at each table.
If trump is not named during the 2nd round in the trump rotation, the dealer may fold the hand without penalty. The deal goes to the next player.
Each table will have a trump dice. The dice has a text face that the dealer will set on the table face up. This means trump isn’t named. Once trump is named, the dealer turns the dice to trump symbol.
If you are dealt any combination of three 9s or 10s, at your first turn, you show the three cards and swap them for the undealt cards. Swapping means you have passed. Swapping is optional.
The dealer is the only person to touch the undealt cards. Please don’t touch the undealt cards or the trump dice.
If all four players pass during the 1st round, the top card is turned down. This suit is no longer allowed to be named trump. Once a player passes, or orders up trump, they can not change their mind.
Scoring
Makers win 3 or 4 tricks = 1 point
Makers win all 5 tricks = 2 points
Going alone and winning all 5 tricks = 4 points
If the Maker does not take 3 tricks, each opponent in 3-Hand, or the opposing team in 4-Hand, gets 2 points.
Each table will have two cards with numbers to track points. Slide the card off the shape to show the number of points. No partial shape should show. Scoring shows who had the better cards for the game. It can also show learning the game. We will teach you how to keep score.
If a player fails to follow suit and has a card of that suit, this is a renege. If this occurs, the team who did not renege is awarded two points. (Four points if it occurs on a loner) A card laid is a card played. The one exception to this is if a player realizes that they reneged, they may correct this error only if the trick has not been collected (turned over). If a correction is made, any card played after the renege may be corrected also. A player must have at least one card of a suit to order or pick up trump. Ordering, or picking up, without trump is considered a renege.
We allow teachable moments, questions, what would you do in this scenario, etc. but table talk (and body language) to your partner are not allowed. For questions during play, seek out Becky or Bryan.
Finally, please do not use your cell phone at the table. Texting while playing is rude and distractive.
It’s a fun, stress free night - enjoy!
Hope to see you soon!