Wes (aka the legend) wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2019 3:27 pm
jblowery wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2019 9:01 am
Assume a neutral score. Any situations where you would pass won 3 low trump? I wouldn't. 3 low trump with junk on the side may lose 2 or 4 if something else gets called too. Maybe if I had a side jack?
I can't think of one situation unless we REALLY try to create some highly specific scenario where Seat 2 is super aggressive like OP stated and Seat 1 is really bad, I.E. passing tons of biddable hands in the 2nd Rd and barely ever going alone. Once we're trying that hard tho it basically proves the point: Don't pass 3 low trump.
However, there are three trump combos you can pass from the dealer spot. The type of hands where if you pass you have that euchre hand.
Example:
Score is 0-0. You are the dealer. The upcard is the
You have
We have all suits blocked, we gotta next call in big trouble, we have approx two tricks in any called suit, and our hand in the first round isn't exactly invincible. It's probably correct to always pass this, but it's absolutely mandatory if Seat 1 is an aggressive player.
One scenario might be something like this:
You're in first seat holding
Upcard is

or

.
It might be worth passing this one in both rounds. The reason being that the dealer is pretty unlikely to be able to pull off a loner sweep with you holding three trump. The most likely outcome of this one if he picks up is that it'll be a one-point hand for his side. However, if you order him up he has a decent chance to euchre you if he does have another spade in his hand. This is a case where the dealer probably won't be able to get five tricks but he's got a good chance to get three if that card is in his hand.
Meanwhile, if they don't pick up, you've got a hand that could do some serious damage to the opponents on a second round reverse next call. If your partner is able to take a trick (reasonable if he's holding the Ace of Clubs) then you've euchred them.
Where passing here will get you into trouble is on a next call by either second seat or the dealer. However, if the opponents turned down upcard here (especially if it was the jack) then the jack of clubs is most likely in your partner's hand. In this case then the opposition still isn't going to get five tricks so it's still a one-point hand if they call.
Note that this isn't a guarantee... it's just that the odds will probably work out in your favor by passing here in both rounds even though you do have three trump by ordering up.