How to Play Bid Euchre

Bid Euchre is a trick-taking card game for 4 players (2 teams of 2) that adds a bidding phase to classic Euchre. It's especially popular in the Midwest United States. Play it free online here — no download needed.

What You Need

Bid Euchre uses a standard 24-card Euchre deck: the 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of all four suits. Some versions use a double (48-card) deck.

The Objective

Be the first team to reach the target score (usually 32 or 42 points) by winning tricks and fulfilling your bids.

Setup and Dealing

Players sit in partnerships — partners sit across from each other. The dealer shuffles and deals all cards evenly: 6 cards per player in a 4-player game. The player to the dealer's left goes first.

The Bidding Phase

This is what makes Bid Euchre different from regular Euchre. Starting with the player to the dealer's left, each player makes one bid or passes. A bid states:

• How many tricks your team will win (e.g. "3", "4", "5")
• Which suit will be trump (e.g. "4 Spades")
• Or a "No Trump" bid where no suit is trump

Each bid must be higher than the previous. The highest bidder wins the right to name trump and leads the first trick. Their team must then win at least as many tricks as they bid.

Trump and Card Rankings

Trump cards beat all non-trump cards. Within the trump suit, the ranking is:

• Right Bower — Jack of the trump suit (highest)
• Left Bower — Jack of the same-color suit (second highest)
• Ace, King, Queen, 10, 9 of trump

Non-trump suits rank: Ace (high), King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9.

Playing Tricks

The highest bidder leads the first card. Players must follow the suit led if they can. If they can't follow suit, they may play any card including trump. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick — unless trump was played, in which case the highest trump wins. The winner of each trick leads the next.

Scoring

• If the bidding team wins at least as many tricks as they bid: both teams score 1 point per trick won
• If the bidding team fails to make their bid ("euchred"): they lose points equal to their bid. The opposing team still scores 1 point per trick.
• Scores can go negative.

Winning

The first team to reach the target score (typically 32 or 42 points) at the end of a hand they won wins the game.

Tips for Beginners

• Don't overbid — only bid what you're confident you can make
• Count your trump cards before bidding
• The Right and Left Bower are your most powerful cards — protect them
• Communicate with your partner through your bids and plays

Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Play Bid Euchre free online →