Espositori

Players receive 5 cards to play a euchre hand, but unlike a regular card game, the dealer does not deliver these cards one at a time, making 5 passes around the table.  Why would we do that when euchre is no regular card game?

Euchre dealers deal in bunches.  The most common bunching technique is the 2, 3, 2, 3 followed by a second pass of 3, 2, 3, 2.  In other words, the dealer delivers 2 cards to the player on his left, then 3 cards to his partner, then 2 cards to the player on his right, then 3 to himself.  He then makes a second pass and delivers 3 cards to the player on his left, 2 cards to his partner, 3 to the player on his right, and 2 to himself.  The wise dealer then counts the grave cards to ensure there are 4 before setting them down and exposing the top card.  (Counting the grave cards is a safeguard against a misdeal.  As beer and euchre are virtually inseparable, misdeals can occur!)

The second most common bunching variant, and the author's favorite, is the 3, 2, 3, 2 followed by the 2, 3, 2, 3.  

Many euchre players mistakenly believe there is only one correct way to deal.  They likely believe that because  it is true in every other card game they have ever played.  Again, I would stress that euchre is not like any other card game.  It is vastly superior, and therefore open to some creativity in the deal.

There are a few things that can not be done on the deal, however:

1. You cannot deliver all 5 cards to a player in one pass.
2. You cannot deliver 0 cards to a player in any pass.
3. You cannot deliver a single card to every player on any pass.
4. You cannot deliver the cards out of order - you must go clockwise from the left. 

Aside from those four rules, dealers can be as creative (or ironical) as they choose when they are dealing the cards.  Just shuffle up and have fun!