Is there a good Euchre bidding strategy guide?
I like the game, but find my bidding to be very hit or miss. And I've been unable to find a strategy guide for Euchre bidding patterns.
Either a good strategy or a link to a good preextant guide would answer my question.
The website http://OhioEuchre.Com/ has much information on bidding strategies. Euchre is a game of chance where aggression pays off. The more you play the better you will get. Take chances! Even when you are getting euchred you're learning more about the game.
The person that said there is little strategy to euchre is incorrect. Just play in any tournament. You'll see that the same people seem to win most of the time. I don't think they're just luckly. I think they took the time to learn the different strategies of the game
An Alternative Method
Most players will learn when to bid by feel, but for those who are not yet at that point or prefer something more concrete, you can assign a score to your hand, in order to determine whether you should bid.
Some players use a 3-2-1 point system, with the bowers worth 3 points each, face trumps worth 2 points each, and low trumps or off-suit aces worth 1 point each. In this system, any hand of 7 points or above is worth bidding.
Another system is simply scoring your hand by tricks. A right bower is worth a full trick. A Left bower is worth 3/4 of a trick. Ace, King, or Queen of trump is worth 1/2 a trick. And low trump is worth 1/4 of a trick. Each trump card in your hand beyond the second gets a 1/4 trick bonus. Meanwhile, off-suit aces are worth 3/4 of a trick, but lose 1/4 of a trick for every other card you have in that suit. And finally, every suit in which you are void is worth 1/4 trick, if you have more than one trump card. Using this method, you can bid whenever your average hand value is at least 2.5 tricks.
Conservatively, the idea would be to have at least 3 trump with one of the top 3 being in that group though I have played lots of times where I'd have 2 trump with one of the top 3 and an off-suit Ace.
Some people will play a much more aggressive style though there are a few variations to keep in mind as some people will play a stick the dealer rule and there can be variations when ordering up one's partner as to whether or not that triggers a lone hand.
Just play the game a lot and you'll learn when to bid and when not to. I find euchre to have a fairly small amount of strategy to it.
In general If you have 3 trump and one of them is A or better, then you can feel free to bid. If you have some off-trump Aces, than that's a good sign and you should bid.
You also have to consider what card you might be giving to the dealer, you don't want to be giving an opponent the right unless you believe that you will win 3 out of the 4 other tricks.
Going alone is all about game control. When deciding about whether or not to go alone, You have to consider how much control that you'll have over the game, and you have to consider what can take your control away.
for instance, if you get to go first and you have
right Ace King of trump and two off-aces, than you can try to draw the left out with your right, and if you do, than nothing can stop you from winning all the tricks.
First, I had no idea that Euchre had a point system (with regard to the value of each card in the deck). I played in college and I found that, more important than a strict strategy on how to play a certain hand, is to learn the habits of your opponents. I realize this is not novel considering card games. But with Euchre it becomes even more important, because there are only five cards in a hand, and winning a hand has a small margin for error.
That being said, I'd like to pass along what has worked for me:
TO improve at Euchre, play a game that makes even greater demands on your strategic thinking, and play technique. Playing Bridge I have seen my Euchre level rise as my capability at Bridge increased, but playing any of 9-5-2, Whist, Hearts, Pinochle and many others (along with Euchre as well, naturally) will improve your play.
As one example, learning when to lose a trick that you don't have to, such as leading out a low trump instead of a high one, can be worth nearly a half a point a game.
1) Any three Trump are worth bidding. Even if you have the three lowest Trump are three suited and have no Aces or Jacks. You won't stop anything with a hand like that. If you pass your opponent will either call it and likely make their point, as you can't help your partner euchre them. Conversely, your partner can call it and their likelihood of getting euchred is higher, as you can't help them in making their point. Remember, that with 3 trump, there are only four trump left between your opponents, your partner and the kitty. You can always get a great surprise on a hand like this. Your partner could have the right, two trump or help with aces. I have also seen 2-3 trump buried in the kitty before.
2) Be careful when ordering up trump to your opponent . Whenever you order trump you are likely putting a second trump in their hand. Not only that, you are allowing them to void a suit. Even that low trump you gave them will frequently take a trick. Even with three Trump be careful!
3) Never order the right bower to your opponent. Remember it will likely be their second trump, plus you let them void a suit. Most people won't pass on the right bower anyway unless they are extremely conservative, which will give you a chance for a euchre. If you have four trump or left-ace-king, you should order it up though.
4) Always pick up the right bower unless you have a complete junk hand. Even one other Trump is enough to call on.
5) order up your partner with a lighter than normal hand. You are given them hopefully a second trump and allowing them to void a suit. Remember that the dealer position is the best at the table.
5) don't call four suited
6) don't call on two trump unless one is the right or you have two offsuit aces.
7) Do not be afraid to get euchered. All good players get euchered. If you don't call it your opponent will likely call it and make their point. Getting euchred really only costs you one point.
This site has point system. It seems well thought out. Not only does it give, points for the bower, but also the up-card, which is very important when bidding.
"When to Bid" http://www.euchreinfo.webs.com/Bidding.pdf is a handy reference sheet for bidding.
More info can be found on the website, "Euchre Info" http://www.euchreinfo.webs.com
Obviously, you count any guaranteed as 1.
Left Bower = 1 (unless it is your only trump, then it is .5)
AK of trump = .5 if protected
A of offsuit = .5 (maybe 1 if you are strong in trump and it is your only card of that suit)
Add them up, round down(or up if you are feeling lucky/desperate), and that is your bid.
Disclaimer: it's been a while since I played.
