The American Card Player part-9

The origin of euchre
By William Brisbane 1866, Pages 57 - 81

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THREE-HANDED EUCHRE

This game, as its name indicates, is played by three persons, and as each one plays for himself, and is therefore opposed by two adversaries, the game requires closer attention, and the exercise of more judgment than any of the other Euchre games

In two-handed Euchre, the player may stand upon a slight hand, but not so in this game; to stand or order up he must have a good hand, in as much as he has two hands combined against him, and should he be euchred, both adversaries count two.

Another important feature of the game is, that the play varies according to the stage of the game; for example â€" at the beginning of the game, each player strives to make all he can for himself; at the first play the dealer makes a march and counts two; the next dealer makes one point, and the third dealer two; the first dealer again deals, and makes one point; the game now stands thus:

Dealer Number 1 has 3 points.

Dealer Number 2 has 1 point.

Dealer Number 3 has 2 points.

Dealer 2 now has the deal, and should he be Euchred, Num 1 wins the game; therefore, while Num 1 plays to win the game by a Euchre, Num 3 plays to let the dealer make a point, or even a march, which would make the game stand at.

Dealer Number 1 has 3 points.

Dealer Number 2 has 3 points.

Dealer Number 3 has 2 points.

It is now Num 3's deal, and if the circumstances justify the case, both his adversaries may combine against him and Euchre him, if they can, which would put them both out; or, they may both play so as to let him make a point, that each may have another chance to win the game. Each player is now three, and Num 1 deals - but as they are all anxious to win the game, without dividing the honor or the profit, the dealer is permitted to make one point, but not two, if his opponents can prevent it.

Num 2 next strives to win by a march, but, as in the last case, his adversaries play to prevent his making more than one point; and the same strife again takes place when No. 3 deals. Now, as each player is four, the game must terminate with the next deal, so that the dealer must either make his point or he gets Euchred, in which case both his adversaries win, and therefore on the last deal, both non-dealers play the strength of their combined game against the common enemy, and thus beat him, if they can. The dealer, however, has a remedy against a defeat, which is in this: if, upon examining his hand, he believes he cannot make a point, he can pass, and thus throw the deal elsewhere, thus having one more chance to win, and the same policy may be pursued by each player, until the game is played out. In some coteries the player who achieves a march is entitled to score three points, for the reason that three persons are engaged in the game; but thus counting three may be considered an innovation, and not the regular game. Where parties differ in opinion as to the right to score three, the question should be settled before the game is commenced.