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Give your Partner a chance. Part 3

This is a partnership game, It has to be played as such.

The saying 'count on your partner for one trick' not only applies when your trying to make a point for your team, it also applies when you are trying to euchre the opponents. As a euchre results in two points for your team, your partners help may be even more important here.

Look at the following hand that I recently played. The score was 8 to 6 them.

  Seat 2

 Q   
 K Q  
 K   
 A   

  Seat 1

 A 9  
    
 J   
 J Q  

Turn card
 Q

  Seat 3

 J   
 A   
 10   
 K 9  

  Dealer

    
 J 9  
 A 9  
 10   

-------------

Dealer Discard  10

---

I'm sitting in 1st seat, Looking at the Q-S as the up card and the bowers in my hand, I'm thinking no way is he going to pick that up. A lone call in next will wrap up the game, I was surprised when the dealer picks up the Q-S. He almost certainly now has three trump. Ok, now how do I euchre him. Most times I won't lead an ace on first lead, it just seems to always get trumped. My bowers are good an any point, what I need is my partner to take a trick. Lets try clubs.

---

First Lead
First seat leads Q-C

  Seat 2

 Q   
 K Q  
 K   
    

  Seat 1

 A 9  
    
 J   
 J   

(cards played)
 Q,  A,  9
 9

  Seat 3

 J   
 A   
 10   
 K   

  Dealer

    
 J   
 A 9 Q 
    

I lead the queen of clubs, 2nd plays his boss ace,3rd plays the 9, and the bidder throws off his useless 9 of diamonds. Darn, I was hoping my partner would get that club.

Second Lead
Second seat leads K-S

  Seat 2

 Q   
 K Q  
    
    

  Seat 1

 A 9  
    
 J   
    

(cards played)
 K,  10,  9
 J

  Seat 3

 J   
 A   
    
 K   

  Dealer

    
 J   
 A Q  
    

Second seat lead the K-S, as he should. 3rd follows with 10-S, Dealer plays the 9-S and I take the trick with the Left. Let's see if we can get the A-H to fly.

Third Lead
First seat leads A-H

  Seat 2

    
 K Q  
    
    

  Seat 1

 9   
    
 J   
    

(cards played)
 A,  Q,  J
 Q

  Seat 3

    
 A   
    
 K   

  Dealer

    
 J   
 A   
    

I lead A-H, 2nd seat follows with Q-H, as does 3rd with the Jack. The dealer takes the trick with his Q-S and then leads back J-D. He's hoping to draw out the high trump.

Forth Lead
Dealer leads J-S

  Seat 2

    
 K   
    
    

  Seat 1

    
    
 J   
    

(cards played)
 J,  9,  Q
 A

  Seat 3

    
    
    
 K   

  Dealer

    
    
 A   
    

Dealer, thinking the right is most likely out against him, leads the diamond, It's his only chance, but it's also my only chance to euchre him. I With fingers crossed, I duck and throw off the 9-H. Still need my partner to get a trick. Yes, partner came through. 2 points for us.

We went on to win the game, taking points the next two hands. Had I not given my partner a chance, and had played both bowers at the beginning, or trumped in at the wrong time, the chances of us winning would have been greatly reduced.