Euchre

I'm interested in joining a weekly Euchre game among friends. I know how to play but cannot match the skill level of the other players. They play for $50; but when they get drunk, they play for $100 p/game. Before joining the group, I want to study the game. I'm looking for advice for any books, websites, and on-line games where I can learn/practice. Any suggestions?

I've never met anybody under the age of 80 who knew the rules of Euchre.

Quote: Wizard

I've never met anybody under the age of 80 who knew the rules of Euchre.

Really? It was hot when I was in highschool (1996-98). We'd skip class and have $5 games in the darkroom of the photo shop, usually 2-3 games going at a time. I don't know of websites or anything though, sorry.

Quote: Wizard

I've never met anybody under the age of 80 who knew the rules of Euchre.

It's mostly a midwestern game. Still pretty big in the Great Lakes region. Lots of midwesterners living here in Florida, so I get a game going pretty regularly. I'm only 47.

I'm 57. We used to play A LOT. We played cutthroat, where you could steal the deal if you feel that your opponents weren't paying attention, or renege on purpose (2 points against if caught, 4 points against if caught on a lone hand).

My dad taught us. He played it at work on break, where they tried to get as many hands in as they could in 30 minutes, and 15 minutes on the odd breaks. We learned to play FAST. (It helped that my dad [84yrs old] is a Gold Life Master in duplicate bridge, he knows his way around the cards.)

My brother and I were damn good as a team. When we'd get in a groove we were almost unbeatable, it was like we knew where all the cards were. We won a lot of rounds of drinks, back in the day we almost never paid. But I haven't played in years.

Just be careful. Euchre is notoriously easy to cheat. Maybe this is what you mean by "skill level". Make sure the game is on the up and up, or don't play for significant amounts of money.

Quote: PapaChubby

Just be careful. Euchre is notoriously easy to cheat. Maybe this is what you mean by "skill level". Make sure the game is on the up and up, or don't play for significant amounts of money.

That's exactly right. We were posting concurrently, in our games cheating was understood, with rules pertaining to the cost of getting caught.

There's a HUGE advantage to stealing the deal, and it's easy to do with people who like to talk about the hand that just happened. Absentmindedly pick up the cards, shuffle, and offer the cut to the guy whose deal it is. He either cuts them and you deal (right after your partner dealt), or is wise to you and passes the cut to your partner on his right, then deals himself.

Quote: Wizard

I've never met anybody under the age of 80 who knew the rules of Euchre.

I knew them at age 6 but then again I'm from Michigan where the game was practically invented.

Quote: Mosca

That's exactly right. We were posting concurrently, in our games cheating was understood, with rules pertaining to the cost of getting caught.

There's a HUGE advantage to stealing the deal, and it's easy to do with people who like to talk about the hand that just happened. Absentmindedly pick up the cards, shuffle, and offer the cut to the guy whose deal it is. He either cuts them and you deal (right after your partner dealt), or is wise to you and passes the cut to your partner on his right, then deals himself.

I'm thinking more along the lines of partners who have signals worked out to let each other know what suits are strong and weak, or what suit to lead on a trick.

Quote: PapaChubby

I'm thinking more along the lines of partners who have signals worked out to let each other know what suits are strong and weak, or what suit to lead on a trick.

Wow, REAL cheating. That sucks, I never considered that.