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By Joe Andrews
Euchre is classic card game, very popular in Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Many card historians have determined that it was a direct descendant of the Spanish game Triomphe. There is also a kindred relationship with another card game of German origin called Juckerspiel. An early version of Euchre was played extensively in France during the mid 1700's and was also given another name -- Ruff. A side note here is that the game of Ruff faded away, but the term "to ruff" (or, trump a void suit) survived, and is well known to this day, especially in the game of Bridge.
During the Napoleonic Era in Europe, Euchre was modernized and introduced to America, especially in New Orleans. From Louisiana, the game spread along the Mississippi River into the northern states. One hundred years ago, Euchre was the #1 card game in the United States. (The game of Whist was fading, and Poker was somewhat limited to Old West and the riverboats). A few decades later, it was pretty much supplanted by Bridge, Spades, and Hearts. Today, however, Euchre still has legions of devotees around the country. There is a national organization, and the game is featured on several Internet sites. Interestingly enough, it has retained a prominent Midwestern following, especially in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan!
This is a wonderful game for people of all ages, and quite easy to learn. There is plenty of room for strategy and technique. The beauty of Euchre is its basic rule structure, neat variations, and fast-paced action. Scoring is easy, and can be tracked (for each side) by using a six and a four (of two different suits) from a standard deck of cards! (A typical game of ten points is usually completed in less than an hour!) The Partnership Version (4 players -- 2 Pairs) is by far the most popular. If you enjoy a fast-paced card game, try Euchre -- you will like it!
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