Going Alone in Euchre

Going alone in euchre means the player who made trump plays the hand without their partner. You say so after trump is fixed and before the first lead, your partner's cards go face down, and three of you play the five tricks. Take all five and your side scores 4 points instead of 2. Take three or four and it is the usual 1. Take fewer than three and the defenders score 2, the same as any euchre.

In a game to 10, a lone march is close to half the game in one hand. The question is always the same: can this hand take five tricks with nobody's help?

Is this hand a loner?

A loner risks nothing extra, because a failed one costs the same 2 points as a failed ordinary call. What it gives up is your partner. The reliable floor is both bowers plus another trump, or both bowers plus an off-suit ace.

The missing left bower is the most common reason a loner fails. Count both bowers before you count anything else.

How a loner works at our tables

• Only the maker is asked. Once trump is fixed, whoever made it chooses to go alone or not, before the first card is led. You can't change your mind halfway through.
• Your partner is out. Their cards stay face down, only three hands play, and three cards go to each trick.
• The lead still starts on the dealer's left. If that seat is the one sitting out, the next player leads.
• The bonus needs all five tricks. Three or four alone scores the ordinary 1 point.
• You can still be euchred. Fewer than three tricks gives the defenders 2, with no extra penalty for trying.

Our Easy bots never go alone. Medium, Hard and Expert bots go alone only with the right bower and a strong trump hand.

What it scores

Loner house rules you'll run into

The dealer's partner must go alone

In Britain, Canada, Australia and parts of New Zealand, a dealer's partner who orders the dealer up has to play alone. Common US practice lets them assist and play as a pair. We play the US way.

Defending alone

Some North American groups let a defender go alone against a lone maker; British rules let either side play alone, and a lone defender who euchres the makers scores 4. Our tables don't offer it.

Railroading

The lone player's partner passes their best card face down, and the lone player decides, before seeing it, whether to discard a card and take it. Not played here; your partner's hand stays where it is.

Loners and the scoreboard

• On 6 points or more, a lone march wins the game outright. Take a thinner one than usual. The downside is 2 points; the upside ends it.
• With the other side on 8 or 9, take the risk. If they are likely to win next hand anyway, an ordinary call that scores 1 won't save you.
• Early in a game, be strict. Getting euchred on a loner in the first hand gives away 2 points for nothing.
• A strong hand alone is not a reason. With your partner it still scores 2 for a march. Going alone only pays when the fifth trick is genuinely safe.

Stopping a loner

You only need one trick to cut the score from 4 to 1. That is the whole job, and it changes how you play.

• Lead your off-suit ace straight away. The lone player will strip your side suits, and you won't get another chance.
• Lead a suit they are likely void in only as a last resort. They will simply trump it.
• Don't save anything. There is no later. Play your best card at the first chance.
• Both defenders play to win. Either of you taking one trick is enough.

Keep reading

• How to Play Euchre: the rules, in the order a hand is played.
• Euchre Terms: bowers, next, cross and stick the dealer.
• Euchre Strategy: calling and leading well.
• Euchre for 2 and 3 Players: 3-handed cutthroat rules and 2-handed euchre.