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CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
WORKS BY R. F. FOSTER 
 
 Bridge Manual $i^s 
 
 Bridge Maxims i.oo 
 
 Bridge Score Cards, No. 2 . . . .25 
 Bridge Score Sheets, No. 1 . . . .25 
 
 Call-Ace Euchre 75 
 
 Chess (Pocket Library) 50 
 
 Cinch (Pocket* Library) 50 
 
 Common Sense Leads 25 
 
 Dice, and Dominoes (Pocket Library) .50 
 
 Poker (Pocket Library) 50 
 
 Practical Poker 1.50 
 
 Whist Manual 1.25 
 
CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 BY 
 
 R. F. FOSTER 
 
 ♦ 
 
 NFAV YORK 
 
 BRENT A NO'S 
 
 1905 
 
LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
 Two Copies tiiceiwtd 
 
 JAM 10 1S05 
 
 Oopjrfitrjii Lntry 
 CLHSS «-* XXc. Noi 
 
 COPY 6. 
 
 Copyright, 1905 
 By BRENTANO'S 
 
 Entered at Stationer's Hall, London 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PACE 
 
 Laws of the Game i 
 
 Introduction and Historical ii 
 
 Description of the Game 17 
 
 Tactics of the Game — 
 
 Ordering Up and Passing 30 
 
 Discarding 35 
 
 Making a New Trump 37 
 
 Calling for Partners '39 
 
 Tenace Positions 43 
 
 Leading .,,,.. 45 
 
 Partnerships and Position 49 
 
 Qei^eral Index • • ? 54 
 
LAWS OF CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
LAWS OF CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 FORMATION OF TABLE 
 
 1. Any number from four to seven can play, 
 their positions at the table being unimportant. A 
 card is thrown round to each player, face up, and 
 the one receiving the first jack deals the first 
 hand. 
 
 CARDS 
 
 2. When four play, the pack consists of twenty- 
 four cards — namely, the ace, king, queen, jack, ten, 
 nine of each suit. When five play, the eights are 
 added; when six play, the sevens are added; and 
 when seven play, the sixes are added. 
 
 DEALING 
 
 3. Any player may demand to shuffle the pack, 
 the dealer last. The pack must be presented to 
 the pone (the player on the dealer^s right) to be 
 cut, at least five cards remaining in each packet. 
 The deal passes in regular rotation to the left. 
 
 4. Beginning on his left, the dealer must dis- 
 tribute the cards, face down, either two at a time 
 
 I B 
 
CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 the first round and three at a time the second round, 
 or three the first and two the second, turning up 
 the top card of those remaining in the stock for a 
 trump, after each player has received five cards. 
 
 5. If the joker is used and turned up, spades 
 are trumps. 
 
 6. There must be a new deal by the same 
 dealer: — If any card but the trump is found faced 
 in the -pack; if the pack is proved to be incorrect 
 or imperfect; if both sides revoke in the same 
 hand. 
 
 7. Any player may demand a new deal if any 
 card is exposed during the deal which was not 
 faced in the pack. The dealer may demand 
 a new deal if any player exposes a card during 
 the deal. 
 
 8. Any player dealing out of turn, or with the 
 wrong c^rds, must be stopped before the trump 
 card is turned up. 
 
 9. A misdeal loses the deal. It is a misdeal 
 if the dealer gives more or less hands than there 
 are players; if he gives two cards to one player 
 and three to another in the same round; if he 
 gives any player more or less than five cards in 
 the two rounds, and fails to correct the error 
 betore dealing to the next player. 
 
 10. Interrupting the dealer, or looking at any 
 of the cards until all are dealt, cancels the right 
 to demand a new deal. 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 
 
 MAKING THE TRUMP 
 
 11. After the trump card is turned up, each 
 player in turn, beginning on the dealer's left, 
 may examine the cards dealt to him, and must 
 then declare to pass or to order up the trump. 
 
 12. Should all but the dealer pass, the dealer 
 may take up the trump card, discarding one in 
 its place, or he may turn it down. 
 
 13. Should any player order up the trump, the 
 dealer must discard from his hand, so that he shall 
 hold only five cards, including the turned trump. 
 
 14. Having once quitted his discard, the dealer 
 is not allowed to change it. 
 
 15. Any player ordering or taking up the trump 
 becomes the maker of the trump for that deal. 
 
 16. If the trump is turned down, each player 
 in turn, beginning on the dealer's left, has the 
 privilege of naming one of the three other suits 
 for the trump, ^ or of passing again. Any player 
 naming a new suit becomes the maker of the 
 trump for that deal; and, once having legitimately 
 made a selection, he cannot change it. 
 
 17. If no one will name a new suit, the deal is 
 void, and passes to the player on the dealer's left. 
 
 18. If the trump card is taken up into the 
 dealer's hand, or if it is played to a trick, any 
 player may ask what the trump suit is; but he 
 cannot be informed what the denomination of 
 the trump card was. 
 
 B 2 
 
CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 ASKING FOR A PARTNER 
 
 19. The maker of the trump has the privilege 
 of calling on the best card of any plain suit for 
 a partner. He cannot call on the best trump. 
 
 20. The player holding the best card in play 
 of the suit called becomes the partner of the caller 
 for that deal; but he is not allowed to give any 
 intimation of the fact that he is the partner, under 
 penalty of scoring nothing that deal. 
 
 21. A call once legitimately made cannot be 
 altered under any circumstances. 
 
 22. If the maker of the trump calls for the 
 best card of any suit, and it is found that he him- 
 self holds the best in play, he has no partner. 
 
 23. If the maker of the trump does not call for 
 a partner, he must announce that he plays alone, 
 or he must call for a suit of which he holds the ace 
 himself. 
 
 24. No one but the actual maker of the trump 
 can play alone or ask for a partner* 
 
 THE PLAY 
 
 25. No matter who makes the trump, the eldest 
 hand leads for the first trick, and the v^nner of one 
 trick leads for the next. 
 
 26. The winner of each trick must keep it in 
 front of him, face down, until the score is decided. 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 
 
 IRREGULARITIES IN THE HANDS 
 
 27. If any player has more or less than five cards, 
 it is a misdeal; but if he has played to the first trick 
 without discovering and announcing the error, 
 the deal stands good, and neither he nor any of 
 his partners can score anything that hand. 
 
 EXPOSED CARDS 
 
 28. If more than one card is played to the same 
 trick by any player, the maker of the trump shall 
 select the card to be played. 
 
 29. Any card exposed by being dropped face up 
 on the table, or by being named by the player 
 holding it, shall be laid upon the table, and may be 
 called by the maker of the trump at any time; but 
 the player cannot be made to revoke. If an ex- 
 posed card can be got rid of in the course of play, 
 no penalty remains. 
 
 30. There is no penalty against the maker of the 
 trump for exposing any or all of his cards. 
 
 LEADING OUT OF TURN 
 
 31. Should the eldest hand lead before the 
 dealer has discarded, the lead cannot be taken 
 back. 
 
 32. If any player leads out of turn, a suit may 
 be called, by the maker of the trump, from the 
 player whose right turn it was, unless it has already 
 
CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 been disclosed that the player in error is the part- 
 ner, in which case the adversary who will be the 
 last player on the trick, when properly led, may 
 call the suit. 
 
 33. If aU have played to the erroneous lead, the 
 error cannot be rectified. . 
 
 34. There is no penalty for the maker of the 
 trump leading out of turn. 
 
 35. If there is any lead out of turn against a 
 lone hand, the maker of the trump can either call 
 a suit from the player whose right turn it was to 
 lead, or he can call the card led in error an exposed 
 card. 
 
 REVOKES 
 
 36. When a revoke is claimed and proved, the 
 hands shall be immediately abandoned. If the 
 revoke is made by the adversaries of the maker of 
 the trump, he and his partner shall score the points 
 for a march, even if they have already lost a trick. 
 
 37. If the maker of a trump is playing alone, 
 he shall score for the lone hand, if any of his 
 adversaries revoke, even if he has already lost a 
 trick. 
 
 38. If either the maker of the trump or his 
 partner should revoke, each of the adversaries 
 scores two points. 
 
 39. A revoke may be corrected at any time 
 before the trick in which it occurs is turned and 
 quitted, provided the side in error, whether in its 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 
 
 right turn or otherwise, has not led or played to 
 the following trick. 
 
 40. Any player at the table may ask the one who 
 renounces if he has none of the suit led, so as to 
 prevent a revoke. 
 
 41. If a revoke is taken back and corrected, 
 those who have played after the one in error may 
 take back their cards and substitute others without 
 penalty; but the card played in error becomes an 
 exposed card, and may be called by the maker of 
 the trump. 
 
 42. If both sides revoke, the deal is void and 
 the same dealer deals again. 
 
 SCORING 
 
 43. At the end of the hand, if the maker of the 
 trump and his partner have won three or four, but 
 not five tricks, they shall score one point each. If 
 he and his partner have won all five tricks, they 
 shall score 2 points when four are playing; 3 points 
 -when five, six, or seven are playing. 
 
 44. If the maker of the trump is alone, and wins 
 three or four tricks, but not five, he shall score one 
 point. If he is alone, and wins all five tricks, he 
 shall score as many points as there are players in 
 the game, including himself — 5 in five-hand; 6 in 
 six-hand, etc. 
 
 45. Whether the maker of the trump has called 
 for a partner or not does not matter, provided it is 
 shown that he did not have a partner. 
 
8 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 46. If the adversaries of the maker of the trump 
 win three or more tricks, they score 2 points each 
 for the euchre. In case the euchre occurs early in 
 the play, all the cards must be shown, in order to 
 determine whether or not the maker of the trump 
 had a partner, if he called for one. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 47. Any player may ask the others to draw the 
 cards which they have played to the current trick. 
 
 48. No player can look at a trick which has once 
 been turned down, under penalty of having a suit 
 called from him or his partners. 
 
 49. No player is allowed to call attention to any 
 trick or to the score. If he does, the player whose 
 attention is attracted may be called upon by the 
 maker of the trump to win or to lose the trick, 
 
 50. If the pack is found to be imperfect, the 
 deal in which the imperfection is proved is void, 
 but all previous scores made with that pack stand 
 good. An imperfect pack is one in which there 
 are missing cards, duplicate cards, or cards so torn 
 or marked that they can be identified by the backs. 
 
 51. If any player passes or orders up out of his 
 proper turn, that shall not prevent any player in his 
 right turn from ordering up or passing. Should it 
 come to the player in error in his right turn, his 
 decision, already given, must stand. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Any new candidate for public favour as a game 
 of cards must have two things to recommend it — 
 it must be easy to learn, and it must be possible 
 to play it with the usual pack of cards and the 
 ordinary counters, or a pencil and paper, without 
 the addition of special apparatus. 
 
 That it may be difficult to play it well does not 
 matter, so that the elementary principles of the 
 game can be briefly and clearly stated to the 
 beginner. What people want in a new game is' 
 to be able to sit down and play it, no matter how 
 badly at first, allowing the skill of the expert to 
 come with practice. 
 
 In this respect Euchre is an ideal game, and 
 has always been justly popular — so much so, that 
 it was at one time held to be the national game 
 of the United States. Its only defect was a want 
 of elasticity. It was a good game for four, a fair 
 game for two, but a very poor game for three. 
 Several attempts have been made to remedy this 
 defect, as in five- or seven-hand Euchre; but the 
 objection to these forms has always been that the 
 game itself is entirely changed in each, introduc- 
 ing new methods of dealing, making the trump, 
 II 
 
12 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 scoring, deciding partnerships, and playing the 
 hand. Straight Euchre in any form is also open to 
 the reproach that there is not very much variety or 
 excitement in it, and that the best cards always 
 win. 
 
 Australia has changed all that. It took Euchre 
 from the United States and remedied its defects, 
 rechristening the game *^ Call-the-Ace," and giving 
 it back to the world in a new form, elastic, exciting, 
 and above all amusing; but still retaining the 
 quaUty that has always recommended Euchre to 
 society — the possibihty of playing it and thoroughly 
 enjoying it without betting upon it. 
 
 Of the history of the Euchre family little is 
 known, and all attempts to discover the origin of 
 the name have failed. Euchre is not a French 
 word, and it is not German. The game is un- 
 known in either of those countries, although the 
 names of the best trumps (Bowers) would seem to 
 be a copy of Bauer, one of the German names 
 for a jack. It has been suggested that *' Euchre'* 
 might be a corruption of the word "Eureka," and 
 that it was originally an exclamation used by 
 those opposed to the maker of the trump when they 
 succeeded in getting three tricks. 
 
 Euchre has many points in common with the 
 ancient game of Triomphe, or French Rufif, and 
 the modern game of Ecarte, and has therefore 
 been by many supposed to have been introduced 
 to the United States by the French in Louisiana, 
 to whom the Americans are indebted for the game 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 13 
 
 of Poker. But if such were the case, the French 
 must have known the game in their own country; 
 and there is not the slightest mention of Euchre in 
 any French work on card games. 
 
 I have ahvays been of the opinion that Euchre, 
 like many other games, is a mixture, probably due 
 to accident — an offshoot or corruption of some 
 older game, which has been imperfectly understood 
 by those who taught it to others, or which has 
 been forced to fit new conditions, such as an 
 attempt to play. Spoil-five with a Piquet pack. 
 The meaning of the word ''euchre" is the same 
 as "spoil-five," the object of the players in both 
 games being to prevent the maker of the trump 
 from getting a certain number of tricks. In the ^ 
 Irish game he is "spoiled," in the American game 
 he is "euchred." 
 
 In Euchre, the jack of trumps ranks above the 
 ace, just as it does in Spoil-five. In the Irish 
 game, the five is the best trump; but, as there is 
 no five in the Piquet pack, the jack becomes the 
 best trump in Euchre. The cards have an en- 
 tirely different rank in ficarte. Robbing the turn- 
 up trump is also common to both Spoil-five and 
 Euchre. Triomphe, generally supposed to be the 
 forerunner of Euchre, shows that it has probably 
 been the parent stem of a large family of games, 
 Triomphe itself being played as far back as 1520. 
 Maw, the parent of Spoil-five, is almost if not 
 quite as old, and was a fashionable amusement 
 in the time of James I. 
 
14 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 Whatever its origin or history, Euchre has always 
 been an eminently respectable game, peculiarly 
 well suited to the family circle, and is much more 
 useful and interesting for large companies than 
 Progressive Whist. In Euchre, there is none of 
 that recrimination Avhich spoils so many partner- 
 ship games; and Call- the- Ace has the added 
 attraction that the partnerships themselves are 
 continually changing, and that good fortune seems 
 to smile more equally upon the players than in any 
 other known game of cards. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE 
 GAME 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE 
 GAME 
 
 In Call-Ace Euchre, the pack varies according 
 to the number of players engaged. The standard 
 is the Piquet pack of thirty-two cards — that is, 
 the ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven 
 of each suit. This is the pack always used when 
 six play. When only five persons play, the sevens 
 are thrown out, leaving the eight the lowest card. 
 When four play, the eights are deleted, reducing 
 the pack to twenty-four cards. When seven play,- 
 which is an unusual number, the sixes must be 
 added to the pack, enlarging it to thirty-six cards. 
 
 The joker is sometimes added to any or all of 
 these packs. When it is, it is always the best 
 trump. While it may add to the variety and 
 amusement of the game, the joker rather spoils 
 the science of it. For this reason, it is more 
 popular with beginners than with experts. 
 
 The players' positions at the table are unim- 
 portant. The first dealer is usually decided by 
 throwing round a card, face up, to each player 
 in turn; and the first one to receive a jack deals 
 the first hand. After that, the deal passes in 
 regular rotation to the left. The player sitting on 
 17 c 
 
i8 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 the dealer's left is known as the eldest hand, and 
 the player on the dealer's right is the pone. Two 
 packs are seldom used. When they are, the still 
 pack is gathered and shuffled by the player on the 
 left of the eldest hand. 
 
 About a hundred counters should be provided 
 for keeping the scores. If these are of different 
 colours, the white should be worth one, the red 
 five, and the blue twenty-five. Some player should 
 be elected to act as a banker, paying from a com- 
 mon pool the number of counters won by each 
 of those engaged. If counters are not available, 
 the scores may be kept on a piece of paper, a 
 column being set apart for each player in the game, 
 and points being credited by strokes, with the 
 usual cross through every fourth, so as to reckon 
 them up quickly in fives at the end. Any one can 
 keep the score. 
 
 After the pack has been properly shuffled, the 
 dealer presents it to the pone to be cut. At least 
 five cards must be left in each packet to make a 
 fair cut. Five cards are then dealt to each player, 
 including the dealer — either two the first time and 
 three the next, or three the first time and two the 
 next; but whichever number is given to the first 
 player must be given to all the players on the same 
 round, or it is a misdeal. 
 
 After each player has received five cards, the 
 top card of those remaining in the stock is turned 
 up for the trump. If this card happens to be the 
 joker, spades are trumps. 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 19 
 
 When four play with 24 cards in the pack, 
 there will be three unknown cards in the stock 
 underneath the turned trump. 
 
 When five play with the 28-card pack, there 
 will be two unknown cards left in the stock. 
 
 When six play with the 32-card pack, there will 
 be one card left in the stock. 
 
 When seven play with the 36-card pack, there 
 will be no cards left in the stock except the turned 
 trump. 
 
 In plain suits the cards rank in their natural 
 order, from the ace and king down to the seven; 
 but in the trump suits the jack becomes the best 
 trump, and is known as the "right bower.'' The 
 jack of the same colour, red or black, is always 
 the second-best trump, and is known as the "left 
 bower." When the joker is used, it outranks both 
 these, and becomes the best trump of all; the 
 right bower being the second-best, and the left 
 bower the third-best. 
 
 The changing of one card in another suit to 
 one of the trump suit is the only thing which is 
 at all confusing to the beginner, who is apt to 
 forget that the jack of the same colour as the 
 trump is a trump. When hearts are trumps, for 
 instance, the jack of diamonds is never a diamond, 
 but a heart. So, when diamonds are led, if any 
 player holds the jack and another diamond, he 
 must not play the jack, because that would be 
 trumping the trick with the left bower. He must 
 follow suit. c 2 
 
20 
 
 CALL-ACE EUCHRE. 
 
 Suppose hearts were trumps, the rank of the 
 cards in the trump suit would be : — 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
 <? 
 
 
 S? 9 
 
 9^9 
 v^^ 
 9 9 
 
 9 9 
 
 
 Therefore the rank of the cards in the other red 
 suit would be: — 
 
 0^0 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 0% 
 
 
 o 
 
 There is no jack in this suit, because that card 
 is now a heart. But in the black suits the ranks of 
 the cards would be as usual: — 
 
 mi 
 
 J*? 
 
 4. 4- 
 
 ♦;^4- 
 
 ♦ 4- 
 
 *** 
 
 + + 
 
 In the same way, if one of the black suits were 
 trumps (spades for instance), the rank of the cards 
 would be: — 
 
 M 
 
 ® 
 
 
 # 
 
 
 ^A^ A * A A ' A 
 
 ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 
 
 12T 
 
 The rank of the cards in the other black suit 
 would be: — 
 
 *** 
 
 *** 
 
 4. 4, 
 
 4.** 
 
 4. 4 
 
 *** 
 
 *** 
 
 4».* 
 
 4» 
 4. 4. 
 
 4. 4^ 
 
 The red suits, not being trumps, would retain 
 the jacks in their usual place between the queen 
 and the ten. 
 
 When the joker is used, the rank of the trump 
 suit would be: — 
 
 9 
 
 9^9 
 9 9 
 
 9^9 
 
 
 9 9 
 
 9^9 
 9 9 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 9 9 
 
 9 
 9 9 
 
 9 9 
 
 The object of the game is to win tricks, and 
 the scores depend on the number of tricks won. 
 Three or four out of the five to be played for is 
 called the " point," while all five tricks won by 
 the same side is known as a " march." 
 
 MAKING THE TRUMP 
 
 After the trump is turned up, each player in 
 turn, beginning on the dealer^s left, after examining 
 the merits of the five cards dealt to him, must 
 declare to '^ pass " or to ^* order up " the trump. 
 
 Passing, means that you do not care whether the 
 trump remains the same as the suit turned up or not, 
 Ijecause you are not strong enough to make the 
 point by winning three tricks, even with a partner, 
 against the combined strength of the other hands. 
 
 Ordering up, means that you want that suit to 
 
22 
 
 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 remain the trump, and that you will play, with or 
 without a partner, against the others for at least 
 three tricks out of the five. The usual expression 
 is, " I order it up," or simply, *^ Take it up." , 
 
 The moment any player, in his proper turn, 
 orders up the trump, those following him have 
 nothing further to say. 
 
 When the trump is ordered up, the dealer 
 must discard one card from his hand, placing it 
 underneath the stock, but face down and without 
 
 showing it. In order- 
 ing up, it must be 
 remembered that the 
 dealer gets the turn-up 
 trump, not the player 
 who orders it, because 
 no one but the actual 
 dealer can take the 
 turn-up into his hand under any circumstances. 
 
 If all the players pass, the dealer can either 
 take up the trump himself or he can turn it down. 
 
 When the trump is 
 turned down, it is re- 
 moved from the top of 
 the stock and placed 
 face upward under- 
 neath, in such a manner 
 that it can still be dis- 
 tinctly seen. This is 
 in order that the players 
 may see what suit it was that was turned down. 
 
 Taken up. 
 
 Turned down. 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 23 
 
 Any player ordering or taking up the trump is 
 known as the " maker of the trump " for that deal, 
 and his side must win at least three tricks out of 
 the five, or he is euchred. 
 
 If the trump is turned down by the dealer, each 
 player, in turn, beginning on the dealer's left again, 
 has the privilege of naming one of the three other 
 suits for a trump, or passing again. Any player 
 naming a new suit becomes the maker of the trump 
 for that deal, just as if he had ordered or taken up 
 one of the suits he names. If any player, in his 
 proper turn, names a new trump suit, no follow- 
 ing player can alter his decision. 
 
 If no one, not even the dealer, will name a new 
 suit, the deal is void, and passes to the next player 
 on the dealer's left. 
 
 ASKING FOR PARTNERS 
 
 The maker of the trump, whether he has ordered 
 it up, taken it up, or named a new suit, may either 
 play alone against all the others, or he may select a 
 partner by calling upon the best card of any plain 
 suit. He cannot call upon the best trump. 
 
 Suppose the dealer takes up a heart. He dis- 
 cards, and before the eldest hand leads he says: 
 *'I call on the best club." It is not necessary 
 for the caller to hold any of the called suit him- 
 self; but having once made his call, he cannot 
 change it. 
 
i4 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 The player called upon cannot refuse to become 
 the partner, even if he thinks he would have a 
 better chance to euchre the maker by playing 
 against him; but he must not disclose the fact 
 that he is the one that holds the best card of the 
 suit called for. The discovery of the partner in 
 the course of play is one of the interesting points 
 in the game. 
 
 Some confusion arises from the fact that, although 
 the game is known as *'call-the-ace," it is not the ace 
 that is called for, but the "best card" of the suit. 
 The ace of the called suit may not be in the play if 
 there are any cards remaining in the stock, and in 
 such cases the best card of the suit might be the 
 king. Sometimes both ace and king remain in the 
 stock, and the queen becomes the best card in play. 
 No matter what the card is, the holder of it be- 
 comes the partner; but of course a player holding 
 the queen would have no idea of it until the suit 
 was led. This is one of the uncertainties that 
 greatly add to the interest and amusement of the 
 game. 
 
 It is evident that the player calling for the best 
 card of a suit may discover, during the play of the 
 hand, that he holds the best card of it himself, and 
 is therefore really playing alone. Sometimes the 
 one who calls will play the king or queen if the 
 suit is led through him, and his partner, sitting on 
 his left with the ace, does not like to take the trick 
 away from him, because he wants the caller to 
 lead trumps. This leads the caller to think he 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 2$ 
 
 IS playing alone when he is not, and he may after- 
 wards trump his partner's trick through such 
 a misunderstanding, losing the chance to make a 
 march. 
 
 The maker of the trump may call for the best 
 of a suit when he holds the ace of it himself. This 
 is sometimes done with a view to preventing the 
 adversaries from knowing that he is playing to win 
 all five tricks, and they will at times pass tricks 
 which they could have trumped, letting the maker 
 of the trump into the lead cheaply. 
 
 A player who is not the caller cannot be sure 
 that he is not the partner simply because he does 
 not hold the ace of the called suit. A king or 
 queen may be the best in play. If he finds a 
 higher card than any he holds is out, he can then 
 safely play against the maker of the trump. If he 
 judges from the play that the ace is not out, and he 
 holds the king, he should play as the partner of 
 the maker, although he will sometimes find he has 
 been deceived, as when the caller holds the ace 
 himself. The difficulty of determining who is the 
 partner often adds greatly to the interest of the 
 game. 
 
 As a rule, the maker of the trump calls for the 
 best card of some suit of which he is void when he 
 is short in trumps, and the ace of one which he has 
 when he is long in trumps. In the one case, if the 
 best card, played by his partner, is trumped, he can 
 over- trump; and if it is not trumped, he can get rid 
 of q. losing card in some other suit. This is oft^n 
 
26 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 a great advantage. In the other case, if he is 
 strong in trumps, he may want a card of the called 
 suit to lead to his partner after all the trumps are 
 out. 
 
 PLAYING ALONE 
 
 If the maker of the trump does not call on any 
 suit, he must declare, "I play alone." With five 
 trumps, for instance, . it would be foolish to call 
 for a partner, because such a partner would be 
 entitled to share the score, as will be seen presently. 
 
 No matter who makes or orders up the trump, 
 he is the only one that can play alone. If any 
 player orders up the trump, or if the dealer takes it 
 up of his own accord, or if any one makes it after 
 it has been turned down, he can play alone, but no 
 other player can do so. 
 
 PLAYING THE HANDS 
 
 No matter who makes or orders up the trump, 
 the player on the left of the dealer (known as the 
 eldest hand) always leads for the first trick. He 
 may lead any card he pleases, and the others must 
 follow suit if they can. Failure to follow suit when 
 able to do so, is a revoke. 
 
 When a revoke is discovered and proved, the 
 play stops immediately, and the side which is not in 
 fault scores. If the player is alone and one of his 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 27 
 
 adversaries revokes, the hands are abandoned and 
 the lone player scores 4, 5 or 6 points, as the case 
 may be, even if he has already lost a trick. If the 
 maker of the trump or his partner should revoke, 
 each of their opponents scores 2 points. 
 
 Any player having none of the suit led, may 
 either trump, if he has a trump, or he may dis- 
 card any card he pleases. 
 
 The highest card played, if of the suit led, 
 wins the trick; trumps winning anything in plain 
 suits, of course, and a higher trump always winning 
 a lower one. 
 
 The player winning the trick takes it in and keeps 
 it in front of him, face down, and leads any card 
 he pleases for the next trick; and so on, until all 
 five tricks have been played. 
 
 SCORING 
 
 The object of the player who makes the trump 
 is to get at least three tricks out of five, and the 
 object of his adversaries is to prevent him from so 
 doing. 
 
 If he wins three or four tricks, but not five, he 
 makes his ** point," and the banker pays him 
 one counter from the pool, or credits him with 
 one point on the score if no counters are used. 
 If he has a partner, each of them receives one 
 counter. 
 
 If the maker of the trump and his partner win all 
 five tricks between them, they each receive three 
 
28 CALL-ACE F.UCHRK 
 
 counters for the '* march," if there are five or six 
 persons in the game; two counters if only four 
 persons play. 
 
 If the player is alone and wins all five tricks, he 
 receives a number of counters equal to the number 
 playing, including himself: 4 counters in four-hand, 
 5 in five-hand, and 6 in six-hand. Whether he 
 declared to play alone or not does not matter, 
 provided it turns out that he had no partner and 
 that he wins all five tricks. Suppose a player called 
 for the best heart, holding king and queen himself, 
 and the ace was not in play. It is evident that he 
 was playing alone, although he called for a part- 
 ner; and if he makes all five tricks, he must be 
 allowed to score for a lone hand. If he wins three 
 or four tricks only, he is the only one that scores 
 the point. Some persons imagine that the player 
 who holds the best of the called suit among the other 
 players is the partner, even if the caller has a better 
 card in the suit; but this is a mistake. 
 
 If the maker of the trump and his partner fail 
 to get three tricks out of the five, they are euchred, 
 and each of the players opposed to them receives 
 two counters from the pool. If a player is euchred 
 on a lone hand, every other player gets two coun- 
 ters. A euchre always counts two, no matter how 
 many players there may be in the game. 
 
 If the maker of the trump has called for a 
 partner, and is euchred in the first three or four 
 tricks^ all the hands must be shown, in order to be 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 29 
 
 sure who his partner was, because sometimes the 
 partner remains unknown until the last trick, and 
 sometimes it is found that the maker of the trump 
 had no partner, although he called for one. 
 
 In settling up the scores at the end, the lowest 
 must be deducted from all the others, and he owes 
 the difference to each of them. The next lowest 
 settles in the same way, and so on. The counters 
 or points may have a value attached to them. 
 Penny points make a good social game, while 
 shilling or half-crown points (25 or 50 cents) 
 would be a good club stake. It is rather unusual 
 for a player to win or lose more than forty or fifty 
 points during a three hours' sitting. 
 
 The irregularities which may happen in the 
 course of play have been dealt with in the Laws of 
 the Game. 
 
30 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 TACTICS OF THE GAME 
 
 There are a few general principles of play which 
 should be familiar to everyone who is ambitious to 
 make the most out of his opportunities. 
 
 ORDERING UP AND PASSING 
 
 The eldest hand, sitting on the dealer's left, 
 has a great advantage in the matter of passing or 
 ordering up, because he has the first opportunity 
 to name a new suit in case the trump card is turned 
 down. With a fairly strong hand, he has two 
 chances if he passes — to gain 2 points by euchre- 
 ing the maker of the trump if it is ordered or taken 
 up; or, to make 3 points for a march if he is selected 
 as a partner by the one who makes the trump. In 
 the case of a euchre, he must remember that the 
 2 points will be scored by several others besides 
 himself, although they may not take a single trick; 
 whereas the 3 points for the march will be shared by 
 one player only. If the eldest hand orders up 
 and calls for a partner, only one player will share 
 with him; and if he is strong enough to play alone, 
 he will be the only one that will score. 
 
 When you are behind in the game, it is very 
 necessary to score alone, even if only one point at a 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 3 1 
 
 time; but when you are ahead, it does not matter if 
 one of the others shares with you, as the rest are 
 left still further behind, and you do not advance 
 the same player every time, your favours being 
 usually distributed. 
 
 Many players make it a rule to order up and go 
 alone when they have three almost certain tricks in 
 the hand, while others think it is a better chance to 
 take a partner and try for a march, which is worth 
 3 points. The risk in taking a partner is that he 
 may not have another trick in his hand but the 
 called ace, and he does not always make that. If 
 there is strength enough in any hand to euchre the 
 partnership, is is probably strong enough to euchre 
 a lone hand. The speculation involved is part of 
 the game. 
 
 It is obviously to the advantage of the eldest 
 hand to pass if he is probably strong enough to 
 euchre the maker of the trump if it remains as 
 turned up, provided he has the cards to name a 
 new trump himself if it is turned down. Suppose 
 a small heart turned up, and eldest hand holds: — 
 
 If he orders up, he must call for the best diamond, 
 because, if he calls for the best spade rn order to 
 discard a diamond, the discard does not help him 
 
32 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 if an adversary holds the ace of diamonds at the 
 end. With the best diamond to help him, he may 
 easily make a march if he drops all the trumps in 
 two leads. If the ace is not in play, he scores a 
 lone hand. The eldest hand has a great advantage 
 in being able to lead trumps at once, without 
 having to ruff a suit first. 
 
 If the eldest hand passes with these cards, he is 
 almost certain to euchre the maker of the trump; 
 and if he happens to be the partner called for, he is 
 almost equally certain of a march. If the trump is 
 turned down, he has an almost invincible lone hand 
 in diamonds; in fact, nothing but two guards to 
 the ace in one hand will stop him. 
 
 It must be remembered that, if there is any 
 player stong enough to order or to take up the trump 
 as it stands, it is improbable that the eldest hand 
 would gain anything by ordering it up himself, it 
 being always better to play with the strength con- 
 cealed than to announce it to the table. 
 
 If the eldest hand held these cards, a club 
 turned up: — 
 
 he must order it up and play alone, because the 
 queen and ten of clubs are much more likely to 
 win tricks after two rounds have been won with the 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 33 
 
 bowers, than they would be if the club were turned 
 down and the eldest hand had to make it spades. 
 The point in spades is a certainty, it is true, but' 
 the lone hand is almost equally certain in clubs. 
 
 In the first of these two examples the probability 
 is that the trump will be turned down to the player's 
 advantage; in the second case, the probability is 
 that it ^vill be turned down to his disadvantage, 
 if he passes. 
 
 Three trumps, two of them bowers, or a bower 
 and an ace, should usually order up as eldest 
 hand, unless the suit can be changed to advantage. 
 Four trumps should always order up, calling for a 
 partner if the fifth card is not likely to win and 
 make a march. 
 
 If the eldest hand passes, the players on his left 
 cannot count upon having an opportunity to name 
 another suit if the trump card is turned down; but 
 the nearer one is to the eldest hand on his left, the 
 better one's chance. 
 
 As a general rule, two sure tricks, and a probable 
 third, is a good ordering hand; but there should 
 be at least two good trumps in it, because even 
 aces in plain suits are not by any means always 
 good for tricks, and kings should never be counted. 
 The fewer trumps one holds, the more likely one 
 is to find a number in one hand against him. 
 
 When you hold two or three aces in plain suits, 
 you must not forget that you are almost certain 
 to be the partner if one is called for. This may 
 
34 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 prompt you to wait for a call, hoping that the 
 alliance with the strong trump hand will result 
 in a march. It is much easier for the strong 
 trump hand to pick you for a partner than it is for 
 you to tell who is strong in trumps. 
 
 In passing or ordering up, players must re- 
 member that the dealer has one trump certain, 
 usually two; and, as a rule, at least one more than 
 the average. The dealer is also almost certainly 
 void of a suit if he takes up the trump. 
 
 The dealer has the advantage of playing six 
 cards, and of having the others all pass before he 
 has to decide about taking it up himself. No 
 matter what other player orders up, he cannot 
 be sure that someone to his left was not also strong 
 enough to order, if he had the chance. While 
 there is always the chance of getting this strong 
 hand for a partner, there is also the danger of 
 being euchred by it. A lone hand should not 
 be afraid of any individual player at the table; 
 and it is unlikely that any but the eldest hand 
 would pass with two bowers, because such a hand 
 is sure of the point, with a partner to help. 
 
 If all pass, the dealer may be reasonably sure 
 that the strength in the turned-up suit is pretty 
 well distributed. The eldest hand is the only 
 one he has to fear, and then only when the dealer 
 has neither bower. The bowers being equally 
 valuable in two suits, the eldest hand will often 
 pass for a euchre when he holds both. With either 
 or both the bowers in his own hand, especially 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 35 
 
 the left bower, the dealer need not be afraid of 
 a pass 'for a euchre; and the trump may be taken 
 up on average strength, such as two pretty sure 
 tricks and a probable third. 
 
 When a player, who is not the dealer, orders up 
 with nothing in his hand but the two bowers, it is 
 very necessary that he should call the suit of which 
 he has one in his own hand, because, after making 
 his two trumps, he should be able to lead the 
 called suit, in order to give his partner a chance. 
 
 If you are not the eldest hand or the dealer, 
 and hold two bowers, you must remember that 
 it is very unlikely the trump will be taken up. 
 and still more unlikely that it will be made the 
 same colour if it is turned down; so that you lose 
 a good chance for a point if you pass. 
 
 DISCARDING 
 
 The dealer should always free his hand of one 
 suit jit least, two if possible, unless he holds win- 
 ning cards. If he takes up the trump himself 
 with two cards of a plain suit, it is risky to call 
 for the ace of that suit, intending to discard one 
 of the suit and let the called ace Avin the other, 
 because, with so many of the suit, it is most likely 
 that an adversary will ruff before the trumps can 
 be taken out. The dealer's chance of getting in 
 early and drawing the trumps must determine his 
 discard and his call in such cases. When he is 
 ordered up, the idea of the discard must be to 
 
 D 2 
 
36 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 ruff if he can before trumps are led; and getting 
 rid of as many suits as possible is the best chance 
 for this. 
 
 Sometimes there is no choice about the discard, 
 as with the following cards, jack of clubs turned 
 up: — 
 
 The spade seven can be discarded in place of 
 the turned trump, and the spade ace must be 
 called for, because there is a chance to win a trick 
 with the queen if the ace drops the king; whereas, 
 if either of the red aces is called, the spade queen 
 must lose a trick. 
 
 It so often happens that the dealer asks for an 
 ace of a suit of which he has two cards, hoping 
 to make one of them, that good players always 
 keep a small card of the same suit with the called 
 ace, if they have it, to return to the dealer after 
 making their ace. 
 
 Suppose the dealer holds these cards, heart ace 
 turned: — 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 37 
 
 It is better to discard the club eight and call 
 for the diamond ace, with a view to discarding the 
 other club upon it, than to risk calling the club 
 and having it ruffed. It must not be forgotten 
 that when the called suit is the same colour as 
 the trump, it is very short. 
 
 In reckoning upon the discard of one suit upon 
 another, it must not be forgotten that the player 
 holding the called ace may never get into the 
 lead to play it. With the foregoing cards, if the 
 dealer gets into the lead himself on the spade, he 
 must play trumps; and, after that, he cannot get 
 rid of the lead except with a small trump. Unless 
 the called suit is led originally, his partner will not 
 be of much use . to him. This is only another 
 example of the chances that make the game inter- 
 esting. 
 
 Those w^ho play against the partnership should 
 get rid of the suit called, if they can, by discarding 
 it when they see that they are likely to be in the 
 lead with another suit, or when they have a small 
 trump to make. 
 
 MAKING A NEW TRUMP 
 
 When the eldest hand passes the second time, 
 it is reasonably sure that he has nothing very 
 strong in the same colour as the turned-down 
 trump. The strength in that colour being prob- 
 ably distributed, there is always the danger of 
 finding the strength in the other colour massed 
 
SS CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 in one hand. For this reason, it is usually safer 
 to "make it next" — that is, the same colour as that 
 turned down, than it is to "cross it" — that is, to 
 change the colour. 
 
 The general rule for crossing is to have two 
 reasonably certain tricks, and a probable third, 
 with a good hand on which to ask for a partner. 
 
 With such cards as the following, a spade turned 
 down: — 
 
 This would be a very strong hand for a call on 
 the spade ace, making hearts trumps; because, the 
 strength in spades being probably distributed, the 
 suit is more likely to go round once, allowing 
 the caller to discard the small club. Some players 
 would prefer the club call, as they have the suit 
 to lead. 
 
 As a rule, the further a player is to the left of 
 the eldest hand (the intervening players having 
 passed a second time), the weaker the hand upon 
 which he can name a trump, because it is improb- 
 able that any great strength is massed against 
 him, and the result will probably depend on the 
 luck of calling on the right partner. . 
 
 When the play for the point is likely to be a 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE '39 
 
 close thing, some prefer to take their chances of 
 making a euchre instead of making the trump 
 themselves, and trying for three tricks. It is a 
 mistake to play for euchres all the time, and those 
 that do it invariably fall behind those that pick 
 up points and marches whenever they have a fair 
 chance. 
 
 CALLING FOR PARTNERS 
 
 If you have only two tricks in your hand, you 
 must call for a partner in order to make your point. 
 
 If you have the point in your hand, it is useless 
 to call for a partner unless he can help you suffi- 
 ciently to make a march. 
 
 Four tricks are no better than three; and unless 
 you have four yourself, and want a partner to get 
 the fifth, you are only giving a player a point for 
 nothing by taking him as a partner. Suppose you 
 order up the club eight with these cards: — 
 
 If you call for a partner, no matter in what suit, 
 he must be able to win two tricks in order to score 
 a march, and the odds against his doing so are 
 5 to I in a six-hand game. One trick is not of the 
 slightest use to you. 
 
40 
 
 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 Ordering up the diamond king with these 
 cards: — 
 
 If. you call for the best spade, there is an ex- 
 cellent chance of getting in with a small trump, 
 catching the left bower with the right, and making 
 a march by leading the spade to your partner at 
 the end. 
 
 Ordering up the nine of hearts with these cards: — 
 
 It is useless to call for a partner, because unless 
 the left bower, king, and ace of trumps can be all 
 dropped by one lead of trumps, the march is im- 
 possible unless the player that holds the called ace 
 can win a trick in trumps as well. If you are 
 going to take the chance of dropping the trumps, 
 you may as well take the additional chance that the 
 club ace is not in play, in which case you will make 
 a lone hand, which is much better than sharing a 
 march with a partner. 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 
 
 41 
 
 In many cases it is impossible to win the point 
 without the assistance of a partner. Ordering up 
 the spade ten with these cards, for instance: — 
 
 If you call for either of the red aces, you run the 
 risk of losing two club tricks; but if you call for 
 the club ace, you can ruff either of the red suits, 
 getting in to lead the trump in the hope of dropping 
 both bowers on one trick. If you do not call for 
 a partner with these cards, it is impossible for 
 you to make your point, unless the adversaries 
 play the hand for you, which is not likely. 
 
 Suppose you are the dealer and turn up the 
 spade j'ack, holding these cards, all passing: — 
 
 You cannot turn it down, because no one can 
 possibly have cards to justify making it next, and 
 it is impossible that you will be the partner if 
 
42 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 the suit is crossed. By taking it up and calling 
 for either of the red aces, you are sure of the point 
 unless the called ace is trumped. This is a good 
 example of a hand which it would be folly to play 
 alone and equally foolish to pass with. 
 
 There are a number of hands in which it is 
 perhaps better to take the chance of being the 
 called partner than to order it up yourself. With 
 the club ace turned, for instance, if you held these 
 cards: — 
 
 You might make six points by ordering up 
 and playing alone. It would be folly to call for 
 a partner, because no one can give you any assist- 
 ance in plain suits. What you want is assistance 
 in trumps, and it is better to take the chance of 
 being called on to help the maker of the trump 
 to a march, than it is to risk being euchred 
 playing against the whole table. If you are not 
 called, you have a very good chance to euchre the 
 caller. 
 
 There are hands in which you know it is impos- 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 43 
 
 sible that you ^viIl be the partner. With the heart 
 ace turned, for instance, and these cards: — 
 
 You must either order it yourself, calling for a 
 partner to help you out, or you must pass for a 
 euchre. It is rather a weak hand to order up with, 
 but it has great euchring possibilities. 
 
 It must not be forgotten that the maker of the 
 trump can call on one ace only, and that the two 
 other aces are probably against him; so that, in 
 playing for a euchre, you have probably two ace 
 hands to help you where you would have only one 
 if you ordered up the trump. 
 
 As a rule, the dealer has the best chance for a 
 euchre, because he gets the last play on the first 
 trick, and is often void of two suits, which he can 
 ruff if necessary. 
 
 TENACE POSITIONS 
 
 Tenace positions are always valuable in the 
 trump suit. A tenace is the best and third-best 
 cards of a suit, and its value depends upon the 
 number that play to the trick before the one with 
 the tenace plays, or upon the known position of 
 the intermediate or second-best card of the suit. 
 
44 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 If you have the best bower and ace, and the 
 maker of the trump sits on your right, or plays 
 before you do, you are almost certain to make 
 both your trumps if you do not lead them, because 
 he most likely holds the left bower. 
 
 The following is a good example of the value of 
 tenace position. The spade ten was turned up, 
 and A ordered it with these cards: — 
 
 The dealer, after discarding, held:- 
 
 It will be seen that it does not matter what card 
 the eldest hand leads, he must be euchred, pro- 
 vided the player with the major tenace, right 
 bower and ace, does not lead trumps. Even if 
 the hands were reversed, and the one with the 
 major tenace had to lead first, he would be certain 
 to win the point, provided he did not lead trumps. 
 No matter which of these two hands leads first, 
 the one with the tenace must make the point. 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 45 
 
 LEADING 
 
 No matter who makes the trump, the eldest hand 
 always leads for the first trick, and what he leads 
 usually gives the key to the play of the whole 
 hand. 
 
 If the principles of calling and the dealer's 
 discards are familiar to the eldest hand, they will 
 naturally suggest two entirely different courses of 
 play, depending on whether the leader himself is 
 the called partner or not. 
 
 In almost every case it is to the interest of the 
 maker of the trump to get them out as soon as 
 possible, so as to prevent the adversaries from 
 ruffing good cards in plain suits. Therefore, if- 
 the eldest hand is the called partner, his best lead 
 is a trump. If he does not lead it, it should be 
 evident that he does not hold one. 
 
 Failing trumps, he should lead the called suit, 
 and always the best he has of it. With both ace 
 and king,* he should lead the ace. He is not com- 
 pelled to lead the best, but it is usually to his 
 own interest to do so. The exceptional case is 
 when the partner has winning cards in other suits 
 besides the one called, such as two or three aces, 
 and leads low from the called suit in order to 
 induce his partner to take the lead. This is 
 nothing but an ingenious way of losing tricks, 
 because the caller \vill not trump the suit he calls 
 unless it is already trumped; and if some player 
 
46 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 puts on the king, the caller may think he is the 
 partner, the ace not being in play, and he will 
 give the adversaries a trick they are not entitled 
 to. If the maker is not the dealer, he ^vill pass the 
 trick, thinking his partner sits on his left. 
 
 If the best diamond is called, and the eldest 
 hands leads it, it should be evident to the caller 
 that his partner has no trumps. If the eldest hand 
 leads a small diamond, it should be evident to the 
 caller that he is not the partner, and the caller 
 should not rufif if no one has ruffed before he plays. 
 
 When the eldest hand is not the partner, it is 
 often to his interest to lead the called suit at once, 
 not only to find out who the partner is, but to 
 prevent the caller and his partner from getting out 
 the trumps before leading the called suit. When 
 the dealer has called for a partner, it is very com- 
 mon to find that he held two of the suit called, 
 and has discarded one. It is, therefore, very likely 
 that one of those opposed to the call can ruff the suit 
 if it is led at once. 
 
 The chance that the eldest hand always takes is, 
 that the immediate lead of the called suit may give 
 the caller the discard he hopes for, which might 
 be impossible had the suit not been led by an 
 adversary. This risk is balanced by the chance of 
 getting in a ruff before the trumps are drawn; for 
 even if the caller over-trumps, he is prevented from 
 getting the desired discard. In favour of. leading 
 the called suit is the advantage of playing the hand 
 with a knowledge of the partner. If the suit is 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 47 
 
 trumped almost immediately, it is, of course, im- 
 possible to tell who the partner is, unless he thinks 
 it worth while to throw his ace on the trumped 
 trick. This complication adds a good deal to the 
 amusement of the game. 
 
 When the eldest hand holds winning cards, such 
 as aces which are not of the suit called, it is usually 
 better to make them immediately, for fear the suit 
 should never be led again. With these cards, for 
 instance, heart jack taken up by the dealer, and the 
 best spade called: — 
 
 With six playing, it is 30 to i that the spade 
 king is not the best out, because there is only one 
 unknown card in the stock. The eldest hand is 
 sure of a trick in trumps with the left bower 
 guarded and the best bower on his right hand; but 
 he should not lead the called suit, for fear the 
 dealer may get a discard of a diamond. It is 
 better to lead a diamond first, to make that trick at 
 once, if possible. 
 
 The eldest hand can often take advantage of the 
 fact that the caller will infer that he is the partner 
 if he leads a trump. Suppose he wishes to steal a 
 trick by creating the false impression that he is the 
 partner, as with the following cards, spade queen 
 
48 
 
 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 turned, taken up by the dealer himself, who called 
 for the best diamond: — 
 
 The eldest hand led the best bower, and then 
 the ace of clubs. The dealer held : — 
 
 Thinking the eldest hand was the partner, but 
 held no more trumps and wanted to make his 
 winning club before playing the suit called, the 
 dealer discarded his diamond on the club and was 
 euchred. He argued that the discard on the club 
 was just as good as on the diamond, as he thought 
 the left bower and king of trumps might be out 
 against him, and the diamond might be ruffed. It 
 should be noticed that the dealer's call was a good 
 one, because it is evident that he will be in the 
 lead at the end; and it is better to have one of the 
 called suits to lead than to depend on a discard. 
 
 Sharp players are likely to suspect some such 
 trap as this, and will usually ruff a doubtful ace 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 49 
 
 when they have one of the suit to lead to the called 
 ace. Had the dealer done this in the foregoing 
 example, he would have made his point. 
 
 One of the advantages of leading the called suit 
 at once is, that if the caller is forced to over-trump 
 his partner's ace, the opportunity to discard is lost, 
 which is the same as having to follow suit while 
 some adversary trumps. It is for this reason that 
 many good players prefer to call the suit they have; 
 but it is not wise to be too regular about such 
 things, or the other players at the table will be able to 
 read your hand too accurately, and play accordingly. 
 
 Leading after the first trick depends chiefly upon 
 one's judgment of the situation. Should the 
 called partner not be the eldest hand, he should 
 try to get in the lead, if he can, so as to disclose 
 himself. Holding both ace and king of the called 
 suit, he should play the ace always. 
 
 A player getting into the lead, who knows he is 
 not the partner, should make his aces while he can, 
 or should give his partners a chance to ruff a suit 
 before trumps are drawn. It is very seldom right 
 to lead trumps if you are not the partner, unless 
 you see your way to a euchre. 
 
 PARTNERSHIPS ANB POSITION 
 
 When the partner is known or inferred, the play 
 proceeds along the natural lines of not winning 
 each other's tricks, and of playing into one another's 
 hands. 
 
so 
 
 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 Some confusion and a great deal of amusement 
 naturally arise from the fact that the ace of the 
 called suit is not always in play, especially in four- 
 or five-hand, and the one who is really the partner 
 does not know it, playing against the maker of the 
 trump instead of with him. The following, from 
 actual play, is an amusing example of this part 
 of the game. 
 
 There were five playing, and the dealer was 
 ordered by the eldest hand to take up the heart 
 ace. The maker of the trump then called for the 
 best spade. This was the position of the three 
 important hands after the dealer had discarded: — 
 
 A (Leader). 
 
 (Dealer). 
 
 The eldest hand led the king of trumps, which 
 B passed, allowing the dealer to win it with the 
 turned-up ace. The dealer led back the trump, 
 hoping A had no spade to put his partner in with 
 at the end. B won this trick with the right bower, 
 and led his ace of clubs, which A trumped knowing 
 B could not be his partner, or he would have put 
 his right bower on the first trick. A then led his 
 
FOSTER ON EUCHRE 51 
 
 spade, which the dealer trumped, making his dub 
 king and euchring A. 
 
 It was at once seen that both ace and king of 
 the called suit were in the stock, so that A and B 
 were really partners, and they had practically 
 euchred themselves instead of making a march, 
 which B could easily have accomplished by winning 
 the j&rst trick with the right bower, and returning 
 the small trump to A's tenace of left bower and 
 king over C's ace and ten, making two tricks after 
 the trumps were taken out. 
 
 When a player knows that he is not the partner, 
 holding nothing but small cards in the called suit, 
 or none at all, he should win every trick he can, 
 trumping all doubtful tricks, unless he holds the 
 best bower alone, which he cannot lose in any case. 
 
 It is useless to hold up tenaces in plain suits, 
 such as ace and queen, in the hope of making two 
 tricks with them, because plain suits seldom go 
 round twice, and most of the play is in the manage- 
 ment of the trumps and in getting discards. There 
 is often a chance to make an extra trick by getting 
 the lead in a certain hand, especially if you will be 
 the last player on the trick. 
 
 Suppose the dealer plays alone after taking up 
 the ace of diamonds. He is on your left, and you 
 hold these cards: — 
 
 E2 
 
52 CALL-ACE EUCHRE 
 
 The eldest hand leads the club ace, which the 
 dealer trumps with the eight of diamonds. He 
 then leads the nine of trumps, which the player on 
 your right wins with the right bower, none of the 
 others following suit. This player leads a small 
 heart. If you trump with your king, the dealer is 
 over you with the ace; and if you trump wuth the 
 left bower, he will catch your king if he gets in 
 again. But if you pass the trick, the dealer must 
 win it, or he is euchred; and if he wins it, he must 
 lead up to your tenace in trumps, both cards of 
 w^hich must win in that case. The dealer had five 
 trumps originally. 
 
 No matter how carefully a person calculates his 
 chances, nor how cleverly he manages his cards, 
 there are situations in which he must come to grief 
 — sometimes through a misunderstanding as to 
 who are partners; sometimes through unexpected 
 distributions of the cards in the other hands. The 
 chief element of success is in the exercise of good 
 judgment in playing lone hands, which put one 
 rapidly ahead in the score if successful; and in 
 knowing when it is safer to pass for a possible 
 euchre, than to order" up and call for a partner. 
 
 As in all games of cards, good luck has a great 
 deal to do with the result; but good humour and 
 plenty of courage are very valuable assistants 
 
GENERAL INDEX 
 
GENERAL INDEX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 AceSy one against two 43 
 
 Advantage of concealed strength 32 
 
 Advantage of eldest hand passing 30 
 
 Advantage of first lead 32 
 
 Advantage of leading called suit 49 
 
 Advantage of various positions 33 
 
 Adversaries leading called suit 46 
 
 Adversaries winning tricks early 51 
 
 Asking for a partner . . . • 4» 23 
 
 Asking what the trump was • 3 
 
 Average order-up hands " • 33 
 
 Banker » 18 
 
 Best card not always the ace 24 
 
 Call cannot be altered 4 
 
 Called ace getting the lead 37 
 
 Called ace not in play 50 
 
 Caller holding ace himself 25 
 
 Caller holding suit called 23 
 
 Caller only can play alone • . 26 
 
 Calling attention to tricks . • • 8 
 
 Calling for partner ............ 39 
 
 Calling suits caller can lead * . • . 23, 36 
 
 Cannot call best trump 4 
 
 Cards, nimiber in the pack i 
 
 Chance of being the called partner 42 
 
 Correcting revokes • • • ^^7 
 
 Counters and their values 18 
 
 Crossing the suit • 38 
 
 Cutting the cards 18 
 
 55 
 
56 GENERAL INDEX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Dealer taking up the trump 35 
 
 Dealer's advantage ... 34 
 
 Dealer's chance for a euchre 43 
 
 Dealer's trump strength • • •34 
 
 Dealing the cards i 
 
 Deceiving the caller 48 
 
 Defects of Straight Euchrie ...•••••• 11 
 
 Definition of tenace ••••.. 43 
 
 Description of the game 17 
 
 Discarding 35 
 
 Distribution of strength 34 
 
 Drawing trumps early • .... 35 
 
 Ecarte • 12 
 
 Eldest hand i, 18 
 
 Eldest hand leads 4* 26 
 
 Euchring the maker 2B 
 
 Euchre in preference to pomt 39 
 
 Exposed cards 5 
 
 First dealer. . " 17 
 
 Following suit • 26 
 
 Formation of tabic •••• i 
 
 Getting out trumps 45 
 
 Getting rid of one suit 35» 37 
 
 Hands which should order up . 33 
 
 History of Euchre 12 
 
 Holding aces '••••33 
 
 Imperfect packs 8 
 
 Interrupting the dealer . ......... . • . • . 2 
 
 Introduction « II 
 
 Irregularities in the hands 5 
 
 Irregularities covered by laws • • . 29 
 
GENERAL INDEX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Joker turned up 2 
 
 Joker not scientific 17 
 
 Joker ranks as best tnunp 21 
 
 Keeping the scores 18 
 
 Keeping small card with called ace 36 
 
 Kings of no value 33 
 
 Laws of the game i 
 
 Leader for the first trick 26 
 
 Leading .•.•-•• 45 
 
 Leading out of turn 5 
 
 Left bower ......19 
 
 Maker of the trump . 23 
 
 Making aces early 47 
 
 Making the trump 3> 21 
 
 Making a new trump 3* 23 
 
 Making it next 38 
 
 Making tricks early • . 49 
 
 March 21 
 
 Maw 13 
 
 Meaning of "euchre" • • . • 13 
 
 Misdealing 2 
 
 Naming a new trump 37 
 
 Necessity for a partner 35> 41 
 
 New deal necessary 2 
 
 Not following suit 27 
 
 Number of cards dealt at a time 18 
 
 Number of cards in the pack 17 
 
 Object of the game • 21 
 
 Ordering up 22, 30 
 
 Ordering up out of turn 8 
 
 Origin of Call-Ace 12 
 
 Origin of the word "euchre" 12 
 
S8 GENERAL INDEX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Partner having no trumps 46 
 
 Partner leading called suit 45 
 
 Partner not to be disclosed 24 
 
 Partner showing himself 49 
 
 Partner sometimes in doubt 25 
 
 Partner's best opening lead 45 
 
 Partners not necessary 39 
 
 Partners playing against each other 50 
 
 Partners that cannot help 39» 40, 42 
 
 Partnerships and position 49 
 
 Passing 21, 30 
 
 Passing for a euchre 31 
 
 Passing out of turn 8 
 
 Passing with two bowers 34 
 
 Penalty for lead out of turn • 5, 6 
 
 Penalty for revoking •••••••••• 6, 27 
 
 Players' positions at table 17 
 
 Playing alone • • • • 24, 26 
 
 Plajring for euchres 39 
 
 Playing the hands 26 
 
 Pone 1, 18 
 
 Point • ... 21 
 
 Preventing discards 46 
 
 Preventing revokes 7 
 
 Probable losses and winnings 29 
 
 Probability trump will be turned down 35 
 
 Rank of the cards 19 
 
 Rank in plain suits 20 
 
 Rank in trump suits 20 
 
 Respectability of Euchre . . . . ' 14 
 
 Revokes ^ 26, 27 
 
 Right bower 19 
 
 Risk in taking partners 31 
 
 Risky calls 35 
 
 Ruffing the called suit 45» 4^ 
 
 Rule for crossing the suit 3^ 
 
GENERAL INDEX $9 
 
 PACE 
 
 Scoring 7 
 
 Scoring euchres 8 
 
 Scoring lone hands 28 
 
 Scoring marches 28 
 
 Scoring the point 27 
 
 Secondary leads 49 
 
 Seeing last trick 8 
 
 Settling up scores 29 
 
 Sharing score with partner 30 
 
 Showing hands after a euchre ••.••... 28 
 
 Spoil-five 13 
 
 Stealing tricks 47 
 
 Straight Euchre's defects 11 
 
 Strength probably distributed 37 
 
 Tactics of the game 30 
 
 Taking in tricks 27 
 
 Taking up the trump 3j 22 
 
 Tenace positions 43 
 
 Tenace in plain suits useless 51 
 
 Triomphe 13 
 
 Trumping doubtful tricks 48 
 
 Turning up the joker 18 
 
 Unknown cards in the stock 19 
 
 Value of points 29 
 
 Value of tenace 44 
 
 Varying the called suit 49 
 
 Weak hand's best position 38 
 
 When ahead, score high 31 
 
 When behind, score alone 30 
 
 Who leads? 17 
 
This preservation copy 
 
 was created, printed, and bound 
 
 at Bridgeport National Bindery, Inc., 
 
 in compliance witJi U.S, copyright law. 
 
 The paper used meets the requirements 
 
 of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 
 
 (Permanence of Paper). 
 
 P A 
 
 2009 
 
 (65) 
 

 
 
 
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