Euchre bidding determines which suit becomes trump each hand. It happens in two rounds. Round one: the top kitty card is turned face-up and players in turn may order it up (accepting that suit) or pass. If all pass, round two begins — any player may name any other suit as trump, or pass. If everyone passes in round two, the cards are redealt unless Stick the Dealer is in play, which forces the dealer to name a suit. The player or team that calls trump is the maker and goes on offense.
Bidding is the engine of euchre — it determines which suit is trump each hand and which team is on offense. The rules are straightforward but carry significant strategic weight. This page covers every aspect of how bidding works, from the first look at the turned card to Stick the Dealer.
The Role of Bidding
After the deal, each player holds 5 cards and the remaining 4 form the kitty. The dealer turns the top kitty card face-up — this card proposes a trump suit for the hand.
Bidding proceeds in up to two rounds:
- Round one — Accept the face-up card’s suit as trump, or pass
- Round two — Name any other suit as trump, or pass
The player whose team calls trump becomes the makers — they are on offense and must win at least 3 of the 5 tricks to score. Failing to win 3 tricks is called being euchred, and the defending team earns 2 points instead.
Round One: The Turned Card
The dealer turns the top kitty card face-up in the center of the table. Starting with the player to the dealer’s left, each player has one decision: order it up (accept that suit as trump) or pass.
Ordering Up — Non-Dealer Players
Say “I order it up” to accept the face-up suit as trump. This:
- Forces the dealer to pick up the face-up card and add it to their hand
- Requires the dealer to discard one card face-down to return to 5 cards
- Makes the face-up card’s suit the trump suit for the hand
- Makes the ordering player’s team the makers
Picking It Up — The Dealer
When it is the dealer’s turn in round one (after all others have passed), the dealer may say “I pick it up” to take the card themselves:
- The dealer adds the face-up card to their hand and discards one card
- The face-up card’s suit becomes trump
- The dealer’s team are the makers
Passing in Round One
Any player who does not want that suit as trump says “Pass”. If all four players pass, the dealer turns the face-up card face-down and bidding moves to round two.
The Dealer’s Discard
Whenever the face-up card is ordered up or taken by the dealer, the dealer must:
- Pick up the face-up card (now holding 6 cards)
- Choose one card to discard face-down under the remaining kitty
- The discarded card is completely out of play — opponents cannot examine it
Choosing which card to discard is a key skill. Most players discard a card that leaves them void in an off-suit, giving them the ability to trump in on that suit later.
Round Two: Naming a Suit
If all four players pass in round one, the dealer turns the kitty card face-down. Round two begins, starting again with the player to the dealer’s left.
Each player may:
- Name any suit as trump — except the suit of the card that was turned down in round one
- Pass
In round two, no card exchange occurs — the named suit simply becomes trump. The player who names it (and their partner) are the makers.
Second-Round Suit Names
Players sometimes use shorthand for second-round calls:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Next | Call the suit of the same color as the turned-down card |
| Crossing / Reverse | Call a suit of the opposite color to the turned-down card |
Stick the Dealer
Under standard rules, if all four players pass in round two, the hand is redealt. This can feel anticlimactic.
Stick the Dealer is the most popular euchre house rule: if bidding reaches the dealer in round two after all others have passed, the dealer must name a trump suit — they cannot pass.
Benefits:
- Eliminates redeals entirely
- Keeps the game moving at pace
- Creates interesting strategic situations for a weak dealer hand
This rule is so common that many players consider it part of the standard game. See Stick the Dealer for full rules and strategy implications.
Going Alone During Bidding
At any point when you call trump — in round one or round two — you may add “alone” to your declaration to attempt a loner:
- “I order it up alone”
- “I pick it up alone”
- “I call diamonds alone”
Your partner turns their hand face-down and sits out. If you win all 5 tricks alone, your team scores 4 points. See Euchre Loner Rules for the complete rules.
Seat Position and Bidding Order
Your seat position relative to the dealer affects both your information and your strategic options:
| Seat | Order | Bidding Situation |
|---|---|---|
| First (left of dealer) | Bids first | No information from other players; leading orders have maximum effect on dealer |
| Second (dealer’s partner) | Bids second | Ordering up helps dealer (your partner) pick up a guaranteed trump |
| Third (right of dealer) | Bids third | Can order up to prevent dealer from getting a favorable pickup |
| Dealer (fourth) | Bids last | Picks up the card if accepted; has discard advantage; last in round two |
The dealer has a significant advantage in round one because picking up the turned card guarantees them one trump card and gives them an extra discard decision. This often makes the dealer’s team more willing to accept a marginal round-one hand.
Quick Reference: Bidding Rules
| Rule | Standard | Stick the Dealer Variant |
|---|---|---|
| Round one options | Order up / Pass | Same |
| Round two options | Name a suit / Pass | Dealer must call in round two |
| Turned-down suit in round two | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| No one calls in round two | Redeal | Dealer must name a suit |
| Going alone | Declare at any call point | Same |
| Card exchange | Round one only (dealer discard) | Same |
Related Pages
- Bidding Strategy — When to call, pass, or order up
- Euchre Kitty Rules — Dealer pickup and kitty rules in full
- Stick the Dealer — The forced-call variant
- Euchre Loner Rules — Going alone, declared during bidding
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'ordering up' mean in euchre?
Ordering up means accepting the turned-up kitty card's suit as trump. Non-dealer players say 'I order it up' to force the dealer to pick up the card (and discard one from their hand). The dealer accepting their own card says 'I pick it up.' Either way, the face-up card's suit becomes trump and that player's team are the makers.
Who bids first in euchre?
The player to the left of the dealer bids first in both round one and round two. Bidding proceeds clockwise around the table, with the dealer going last. In round one, the dealer is the last chance to accept the face-up card before moving to round two.
Can the dealer pass in both rounds?
Under standard rules, yes — the dealer may pass in both rounds, resulting in a misdeal where cards are reshuffled and redealt. However, most groups play Stick the Dealer: in round two the dealer cannot pass and must name a trump suit. This eliminates redeals and keeps the game moving.
What is the difference between round one and round two bidding?
In round one, the only suit available is the one shown on the face-up kitty card. Players accept that suit or pass. In round two (if all passed in round one), players may name any suit except the one that was turned down. No card exchange happens in round two — the named suit simply becomes trump.
Can you call the same suit that was turned down in round two?
No. In round two you may name any of the three remaining suits — but not the suit of the card that was turned down in round one. Common second-round calls are 'next' (same-color suit as the turned-down card) or 'crossing' (opposite-color suit).
What does the dealer do when they pick up the kitty card?
When the face-up card is ordered up or taken by the dealer, the dealer adds it to their hand (giving them 6 cards) then discards one card face-down under the remaining kitty to return to 5 cards. The discarded card is out of play for that hand and may not be examined by other players.