Legal Communication in euchre, page 2

Communication requires you know + trust your partner's ability

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The top players understand that winning at euchre requires a team effort. Trusting your partner to bid the hand correctly and having the ability to understand why they called or passed is an important euchre skill. Every card played should be done to give your partner information. This is one of the primary reasons experienced teams are so hard to beat.

Look at this example:

Let's assume the score is 9 to 7, with the North/South team in the lead. The dealer is in the West position and has turned up a jack. Their team has 7 points. Your partner in the North seat passes, as does east. You, sitting in the South seat, now know that because they passed, your partner has a sure trick in their hand; in some cases, it may be the left protected or possibly a protected ace. With this information and seeing what cards are in your hand, you realize there is a high probability your team can score a point and win the game.

Blocking and its relationship to communication

Players that feel blocking is wrong are missing out. Because euchre is such a fast-moving game teams need every advantage they can get to win. Whenever a right is turned up and your partner, in the first seat, passes, he is giving you information. He is saying 'he has a lone stopped' It is up to you to use this information wisely. For example, if you hold a strong hand in the turned-up suit you should be naming trump. All that you need are a couple of trump and an ace or two.

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Passing and its relationship to communication

Any time you are dealing and turn down a jack, you are telling your partner you are void in that suit. Conversely, if you hold at least one card of the same suit you would pick up the jack.

Let's say your partner, as the dealer, turns down the jack of clubs. The first seat passes, and you bid in hearts. Now first seat leads the ace of clubs. Even though you are void in clubs, you throw off a junk card, giving your partner a chance to trump in. Just knowing that your partner will always pick up a jack, except when they are void in that suit, makes this a high percentage play. Also, When they show they are void, you as the partner, now have a lead-back suit that you know they will be able to trump.

Remember:

* When your partner throws off a suit on your lead he is asking you to lead back that suit.

* When your partner is the dealer and has already had the opportunity to create a void, he is asking for a different lead back

* When your partner, as the dealer, turns down a jack he is most likely void in that suit.

* If the opponents lead an ace and your partner, as the dealer, follows suit, he is most likely void in the remaining green suit.

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Suggested Further Reading: