Euchre - better known in Italy as overtaking - is an agitated card game with trump cards that requires strategy and team play to win. The rules may seem confusing to novices, but a modest understanding of the basics of the game is enough to join a game and have fun. Overtaking is played in four (divided into two pairs) and a deck of French cards is used. Gather three other friends and follow the next steps to learn how to enjoy this game of ancient origins.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Game Preparation
Step 1. You have to be four and split into two pairs
You decide how the teams are to be formed.
Teammates should sit so that they are facing each other and have the two opponents on either side
Step 2. Prepare the deck
Overtaking is played with 24 cards, removing all cards with a value lower than 9 from a regular deck of 52 cards. In practice, only the cards of the
Step 9
Step 10., J, Q, K., And TO. Although the eliminated cards are not used during the game, keep the de cards aside
Step 4. and it's
Step 6. of two different suits. You will need them to mark the score.
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The procedure for scoring the score is very simple (overtaking wins who reaches 10 points first). Overlapping the cards
Step 4
Step 6. suitably, the suit symbols displayed will indicate the team's score. For example: to score the 5 points, the cart
Step 6. will be uncovered, with one of the symbols covered by the cart
Step 4. turned face down.
Step 3. Determine the dealer
Mascola the deck and deal the cards to the players until one of you receives a black jack, making you the first dealer.
Step 4. The cards are dealt counterclockwise, in compliance with precise guidelines:
- The cards are dealt in two rounds.
- The dealer gives each player (including himself) stacks of two or three face down cards at a time.
- The distribution scheme does not matter; the most common is 2-3-2-3 on the first round, followed by 3-2-3-2 on the second round.
- Players can only look at the cards when the dealer has finished dealing them. It is forbidden to discuss the cards with other players, including your teammate.
- When each player has received his 5 cards, the dealer will place the remaining four cards face down on the table (the stock) and reveal the first one on top. At this point, the hand begins.
Part 2 of 3: The Rules of the Game
Step 1. The concept of trump (in common parlance, trump)
Trump is the dominant suit in overtaking. The trump suit takes any other card from the other suits, no matter what value. If a player throws a trump, it can only be beaten by a higher trump. The hierarchical order of the cards in the ladder of the trump suit is slightly different than the ladders of the other suits.
The hierarchical order in the scale of the trump suit is as follows (for the convenience of the example, I will assume that spades is the designated trump): jack of spades, jack of clubs (i.e. the jack of the same suit), ace, king, queen, ten and nine of spades. In the other suits, the value of the cards is the classic one, with nine being the lowest card and the ace being the highest
Step 2. The score
At the base of overtaking is the grip. Each overtaking hand has five tricks. The game ends when one of the two couples scores 10 points.
- The pair of the player who has chosen the trump score a point by making at least 3 tricks, 2 points if he makes the coat (ie he takes all five times).
- Otherwise, the opposing team receives 2 points. They successfully overtook the competitors.
- The player who nominated or accepted the trump suit can also decide to go alone (be careful though, he must have really good cards). If he decided to do so and managed to make a coat, his team would receive 4 points in one fell swoop.
Step 3. Estimate what cards your partner might be holding
Avoid playing trump cards if your partner has already thrown one; your team will get carried away even without your help. If you are in turn before your partner and you have a good card in your hand, it is better to put it on the table, so that your partner will save their winning move for the next trick. If you have a lot of good cards in hand, consider "going alone".
If one of the players determines that he has been dealt good cards, to the point of feeling confident that he is making all 5 tricks his own, that player may decide to "go it alone" (this usually happens if the player is holding both jacks). trump card, an ace and another high trump card. Such a hand should give you a good chance of taking home all the tricks). In this case, the partner leaves the game. When the top card of the stock is turned and the players are announcing whether to accept or pass the suit of the card as trump, if no one has accepted yet and it is your turn, you must simultaneously declare that you accept that suit as trump and that "you will go by. alone". The game proceeds as usual, but if the player who went alone wins all 5 tricks his team scores 4 points. If he wins 4-1 or 3-2, then he will only win one point
Part 3 of 3: Game Phases
Step 1. Deal the cards
As mentioned earlier, sit around a table and choose the dealer. The dealer will deal 5 cards to each player and place the stock on the table.
Step 2. Reveal the top card of the stock to show it to all players
Starting from the person sitting to the left of the dealer, clockwise and in turn, each participant can accept or pass the trump of the hand: as soon as a player accepts, the hand begins (otherwise, the round is repeated with a new suit).
- If the player wishes to accept the suit as trump, he will say "I accept".
- If the player does not want to declare that suit as a trump, he will say "pass" or knock on the table with his fist.
Step 3. When a player announces the trump, the dealer takes the top card of the stock in his hand and replaces it with one of his own, face down (usually a low card of a non-trump suit)
If everyone passes, the top card of the stock will be covered and a second round of announcements follows. During the second round, everyone can pass or nominate a new trump suit, but different from the suit of the first card revealed by the dealer. In the event that the second round also ends without having established the trump, the player to the left of the dealer will become the new dealer and will have to shuffle the cards and deal a new hand.
It is a good idea to accept or bid a trump only if you have excellent cards. If not, it's best to keep a low profile
Step 4. The player to the left of the dealer begins
There is an obligation to answer - it is necessary to play a card of the same suit as that of the first of the round. If a player has no cards of that suit, he can choose to throw a trump or, if not convenient, go down with a card of any other suit. The trick is the highest value card of the suit played first, unless no player has used a trump. If there are more trumps on the table, the card with the highest value wins.
If you provide a card that does not respond to the suit thrown by the first player, despite having a card of that suit in hand, you are at risk of sanction. In case one of the opposing players finds out that you are cheating, his team will automatically earn 2 points. If you cheated while going alone, the penalty will be 4 points
Step 5. Don't play random, you need strategy
Since each overtaking hand is short-lived, it won't be difficult for you to memorize the cards. Try to guess what your opponents are holding before you play your hand. For example, the dealer always adds the trump on top of the stock to his cards - try not to forget it.
- If you are first to hand and have two or more trumps, go down with those. Always provide a trump if you understand that your partner can no longer take; it will also help you understand how the trumps are distributed. Otherwise, go in sequence. Let's say diamond is the trump - come down with spades or clubs to try and secure your hold.
- Don't get attached to trumps. Overtaking is a fast game - if you move too slowly, you will lose the opportunity to use them. When the game calls, answer immediately.
Step 6. Don't forget the score
When a team is at 9 points it is said, in the United States, that it is "in the barn". Announce your score to everyone with great emphasis, because when a team has reached 9 points it means that they are close to winning the game.
An ancient American custom has it that one of the players of the team "in the barn" join his hands in fists with his thumbs pointing downwards to simulate "udders" to allow his partner to "milk them"
Step 7. Calculate the final score
The five overtaking hands are lightning fast, so it's best to keep score as you go. Use the 6 and 4 cards to keep the points.
