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HI FOLKS

Welcome to the St Austell & District Euchre League web site. As this is my first attempt at doing anything like this I trust you will be forgiving of the many cock ups I will probably make.

I have kept the site small and I trust easy to navigate around. Hopefully I will be receiving feedback from you as to what you would like to see on your site and before you say it naked photos of me and Amos are definitely out of the question, heaven forbid.

Euchre.:-Played in many places around the world, with many variations of play. In fact there is a difference in the way of playing between St Austell, Newquay and Truro.  I won't delve into the various ways of playing, but instead will just be concentrating on our League.

The St Austell & District Euchre League covers an area in Cornwall from Fowey to Lostwithiel, Lanivet, Roche, St Dennis, Probus and Mevagissey.

Our League is based on 1 to 6 sections depending on how many teams enter at the start of the season. The League is not run on a promotion and relegation system. Instead the teams that have entered are all fed into a computer and randomly sorted into sections. We find that the League players prefer doing it this way as the teams usually get to play at different venues each season, meet new players and maybe meet old friends that they haven't seen for a season or two.

The majority of our teams are made up of local Pubs and Clubs, or anywhere where there is alcoholic beverage consumed and most establishments are kind enough to supply a light snack of sandwiches and things at the end of the match.

The season normally runs from the end of September through to the end of April. This also includes events such as a Christmas tournament, a Knockout tournament, a Pairs tournament and our section playoffs, which is the winners and runners up from each section playing for the main Trophies. 

We have an average of 50 teams of 6 players playing on a Thursday evening.

The 6 players in the team are divided into three pairs and each pair play 3 games of 21 points.

Each team plays 9 games in an evening and the winners are the team that wins 5 or more games out of the 9. The winning team is awarded two points. As you can see in our League tables the points and games won are added weekly and at the end of the season the team with the most points are the section winners. The exception to this is if two or more teams have the same number of points, it is the team with the highest number of games won who are the winners. Very occasionally we have more than two teams with the same number of points and games won. In the event of this happening, each team plays the others to decide the final positions.  

The pack is made up of 25 cards, with the Joker (Benny) being the highest value card, followed by the Jacks (Bowers) down to the nine,

The following is an example of a good Euchre hand of hearts in order of value:-

                                                                           JOKER (BENNY) 

                     JACK OF HEARTS (RIGHT BOWER)      JACK OF DIAMONDS (LEFT BOWER)

                                                                                 ACE OF HEARTS     KING OF HEARTS

The same would apply  to the other three suits with the exception that the Jacks (bowers) would alter on each occasion.

The first deal is for who starts the play. There is no hard and fast rule as to who deals first but whoever deals will offer the cards to the player on the right to cut. (This can sometimes be a bit of a grey area as some Euchre schools allow tapping of the cards' or bumping. We prefer the cards cut well into the pack to keep them well mixed up)  The dealer will then deal a single card face up to each player starting with the player to the left until a Jack of any suit is turned up. The player receiving the Jack is the person who starts the main play.

The start player or dealer offers the cards to the player on the right to cut and then starting with the player on the left deals each player 3 cards on the first round and two cards on the second round. The remaining cards are placed face down on the table and the top card is turned face up.

The card turned up is now the active card on which players can make trumps. In the St Austell League the dealer is always the first player to call or shout. 

 The dealer can now pick up his/her cards and look at them. The rest of the players cards remain face down on the table.  

 The dealer can now choose to pick the card up with a partner, or turn their partner down by saying "I'll go alone "or "Pass" if the card is not wanted. If the dealer decides to pick the card up he cannot now be turned down as the card picked up must be played.

If the dealer passes, the opposition player to their left can now pick up their own cards and either order the dealer to pick up the card and play, with or without a partner or say "Pass"

If this player also passes, the dealers partner can now pick up their own cards and decide to either pass or turn the active card down. If the active card is turned down the player will have to go alone.

If this player also decides to pass, it is up to the final player to pick up their cards and choose to either order the dealer to pick the card up and play with or without a partner, or pass.

If all the players pass on the first round the active card is turned face down on the pack or (sleeping hand) and  each player, starting with the dealer can decide to pass or make trumps of any suit they wish, except for the suit that was passed on the first round.

If all players pass on the first and second round that deal is finished and the deal goes to the player on the dealers left.

The object of the game is to be the first pair to reach 21 points and the following is how the points are scored.

A lone shout making all 5 tricks = 4 points.

A lone shout making 3 or 4 tricks = 1 point.

A lone shout making less than 3 tricks is a euchre and 2 points are awarded to the opposing team.

A shout with a partner, making all 5 tricks = 2 points.

A shout with a partner making 3 or 4 tricks = 1 point.

A shout with a partner making less than 3 tricks is a euchre and 2 points are awarded to the opposing team.

       A typical 21 up euchre score board used in the St Austell Euchre League.

The aim of the St Austell & District Euchre League is to provide organized euchre playing for as many people as want to play on a Thursday night in a friendly and relaxing environment.

                                                              Chris Slater (Fixture secretary)   

Updated 29th June 2008.

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