Hey gang,

My buddy Michael Scott from HomeRunGames has a new project you should really check out, especially if vintage playing cards interest you...

1878 Restoration, Andrew Dougherty, Euchre Playing Cards by Michael Scott


Restoration of a Euchre deck, a game that influenced the inception of the joker card.

ABOUT THIS PROJECT...

My latest Restoration is bringing back to life an old Euchre deck. The 1878 Euchre Deck by Andrew Dougherty. Early Euchre decks are one of the main reasons that we have Jokers today.






THE BACKS...



THE FACES...





CANVAS STOCK WALL STICKERS!



JUST LIKE FAT HEADS THEY CAN BE REMOVED AND PUT ANYWHERE ELSE



WHAT IS EUCHRE?

Euchre is a game that became known throughout Europe during the Napoleonic era. In the later 1800s, it became popular in America. Euchre (and other variations) is the reason why card decks were first packed with a joker card, The original joker was the right and left bowers (high trumps).

The number of players is 2 - 7, but the game is best for 4 players, playing two against two as partners.

The Pack of Euchre Cards

Euchre decks consist of thirty two cards (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 of each suit), or 28 cards (7s omitted), or 24 cards (7s and 8s omitted). In some games, a joker is added.

Rank of Cards: The highest trump is the jack of the trump suit, called the "right bower." The second-highest trump is the jack of the other suit of the same color called the "left bower." (Example: If diamonds are trumps, the right bower is J♦ and left bower is J♥.) The remaining trumps, and also the plain suits, rank as follows: A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7. If a joker has been added to the pack, it acts as the highest trump.

Draw: From the shuffled pack spread face down, the players draw cards for partners and first deal. The two players with the two lowest cards play against the two players with the two highest cards. The player with the lowest card deals first. For drawing, the cards rank: K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, A. Players drawing equal cards must draw again. Partners sit opposite each other.

Shuffle: The dealer has the right to shuffle last. The pack is cut by the player to the dealer's right. The cut must not leave less than four cards in each packet.

Deal: The cards are dealt clockwise, to the left, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. Each player receives five cards. The dealer may give a round of three at a time, then a round of two at a time, or may give two, then three; but the dealer must adhere to whichever distribution plan he begins with. After the first deal, the deal passes to the player on the dealer's left.

The Turn Up: On completing the deal, the dealer places the rest of the pack in the center of the table and turns the top card face up. Should the turn-up be accepted as trump by any player, the dealer has the right to exchange the turn-up for another card in his hand. In practice, the dealer does not take the turn-up into his hand, but leaves it on the pack until it is played; the dealer signifies this exchange by placing his discard face down underneath the pack.

Trump: Beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, each player passes or accepts the turn-up as trump. An opponent of the dealer accepts by saying "I order it up." The partner of the dealer accepts by saying, "I assist." The dealer accepts by making his discard, called "taking it up."

The dealer signifies refusal of the turn-up by removing the card from the top and placing it (face up) partially underneath the pack; this is called "turning it down."

If all four players pass in the first round, each player in turn, starting with the player to the dealer's left, has the option of passing again or of naming the trump suit. The rejected suit may not be named. Declaring the other suit of the same color as the reject is called "making it next"; declaring a suit of opposite color is called "crossing it."

If all four players pass in the second round, the cards are gathered and shuffled, and the next dealer deals. Once the trump is fixed, either by acceptance of the turn-up or by the naming of another suit, the turn-up is rejected, the bidding ends and play begins.

Playing Alone: If the player who fixes the trump suit believes it will be to his side's advantage to play without the help of his partner's cards, the player exercises this option by declaring "alone" distinctly at the time of making the trump. This player's partner then turns his cards face down and does not participate in the play.

The goal is to win at least three tricks. If the side that fixed the trump fails to get three tricks, it is said to be "euchred." Winning all five tricks is called a "march."

Play: The opening lead is made by the player to the dealer's left, or if this player's partner is playing alone, it is made by the player across from the dealer. If he can, each player must follow suit to a lead. If unable to follow suit, the player may trump or discard any card. A trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, or, if it contains trumps, by the highest trump. The winner of a trick leads next.

Scoring: The following shows all scoring situations:
Partnership making trump wins 3 or 4 tricks 1
Partnership making trump wins 5 tricks 2
Lone hand wins 3 or 4 tricks 1
Lone hand wins 5 tricks 4
Partnership or lone hand is euchred, opponents score 2

Rubbers: Many Euchre games are scored by rubber points, as in Whist. The first side to win two games wins the rubber. Each game counts for the side winning; 3 rubber points if the losers' score in that game was 0 or fewer, 2 rubber points if the losers' score was 1 or 2, and 1 rubber point if the losers scored 3 or more. The winners' margin in the rubber is 2 points bonus, plus the winners' rubber points, minus the losers' rubber points.

Winning: The first player or partnership to score 5, 7 or 10 points, as agreed beforehand, wins the game. In the 5-point game, a side is said to be "at the bridge" when it has scored four and the opponents have scored two or less.

Keeping Score with Low Card Markers: An elegant and widespread method of keeping score is with cards lower than those used in play. When game is 5 points, each side uses a three-spot and a four-spot as markers. To indicate a score of 1, the four is placed face down on the three, with one pip left exposed. For a score of 2, the three is placed face down on the four, with two pips left exposed. For a score of 3, the three is placed face up on the four. For a score of 4, the four is placed face up on the three.

---

RISKS AND CHALLENGES

We will be using the USPCC to print the decks.
They do incredible and timely work.

Questions? Want more information? Simply Click Here!

--