Calling a Loner Hand

Calling a Loner Hand in Euchre

Euchre Forum member Ellen is somewhat new to euchre and asked the question “When should I call a loner hand in euchre?” From my experience that’s a fairly common question for beginning euchre players. Most would rather be too timid than too aggressive, and are therefore hesitant to call a loner hand when they are still learning the basic strategy of euchre. Ellen’s question motivated me to write this article.

First let’s discuss the mindset of the game, because it impacts the answer. There are two basic types of euchre games:

1) A bunch of friends trash-talking and killing a case of beer game

And

2) Very serious euchre

This article is written from the very serious euchre perspective. If you’re in a trash-talking, beer-swilling game, feel free to deviate from these principles as befit’s the moment. I do.

Thumb rule 1 for calling a loner hand in euchre:

Do not call a loner if you have 8 or 9 points.

The exception to the first thumb rule: You have 8 and you need to control the hand so that your partner does not lead into the opposition. This will usually happen when you are the dealer. Let’s look at an example:

You’ve dealt yourself a sweet hand, and you’re two points from a win. You pick up the ace and keep your partner in the hand. Your opponent leads the

, and your partner trumps it with the

. Your partner then leads the

and you are now at risk for only getting 1 point from this hand. You have not yet pulled your opponents’ trump. If either of them are short spades you get just a single point for your monster hand.

You can avoid this situation by going alone and controlling the hand all the way.

Thumb rule 2 for calling a loner hand in euchre:

Evaluate whether your partner can actually help.

This is a skill that takes some time and experience to develop, but with a little critical thinking even novice euchre players can make a fair estimate. One aspect that beginning players frequently overlook is the actual significance of the partner’s help. Here’s an exaggerated example, but it happens from time to time. The score is 2 to 2. You are dealt

and the bid is passed to you. Unless its your first hand ever of euchre, you know you’re going to be calling SPADES!, trying not to blurt it out too obviously. But would you go alone here without the right bower?

The answer is absolutely YES.
If your partner has it, he’ll take a trick if you keep him in the hand. You’ll get the other 4 tricks and bag 2 points.

If he has it and you go alone, you’ll take all 5 tricks and get 4 points. (You also get the same result if the right bower is buried in the grave).

If one of your opponents has the right bower you’ll take 4 tricks and win one point whether your partner plays the hand or not - because there’s nothing your partner can do to stop your opponents from getting a trick if one of them has the right bower. You may as well sit him out, go alone, and see if you can take all 5.

Thumb rule 3 for calling a loner hand at euchre:

If you’re losing by a wide margin, be more aggressive.

Your opponents have been a couple of card racks, and you are losing 8 - 0. If you’re naming trump for the hand - and you should be looking to do just that - you must seriously consider going alone. Roughly 35% of the hands that you’d name trump with normally should be called as loners when you are far behind in a game. You either want to make the come back, or go down swinging.

That’s it, just 3 rules of thumb for calling loners in euchre. There’s a substantial amount of gray area in the second thumb rule, but only time and experience can help you with that.

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