Shake Up Your Card Night with Screw the Dealer Euchre

Screw Your Neighbor EuchreScrew Your Neighbor Euchre

Ready to shake up your card game nights? If you’re a fan of Screw the Dealer or Euchre, get ready for a wild twist with Screw the Dealer Euchre! In this game, the dealer faces tricky decisions, keeping the action nonstop and adding a whole new level of excitement. Whether you’re here for party vibes or competitive play, let’s dive into what makes these games so uniquely thrilling!

Screw the Dealer vs. Screw the Dealer Euchre 

“Screw the Dealer” and “Screw the Dealer Euchre” are distinct in their gameplay and context,  despite sounding similar.

Screw the Dealer, also known as “Fuck the Dealer,” is a drinking game where players take turns guessing the top card of a deck, with incorrect guesses typically leading to drinking penalties. It’s all about fun and beverages, perfect for a lively social setting.

In contrast, Screw the Dealer Euchre is a house rule for the card game Euchre, designed to keep the game dynamic by ensuring the dealer must choose a trump suit if no one else bids. This rule prevents the game from stalling and maintains player engagement.

Screw the Dealer Comparison

How Euchre works with the Screw the Dealer Rule

The Basic Rules of Euchre

  • Objective: The goal is to be the first team to reach 10 points by winning tricks.
  • Deck: Euchre typically uses a deck of 24 cards (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9 in each suit). Some variations use 28 or 32 cards, but the most common version omits the 2s through 8s.
  • Deal: Each player is dealt 5 cards. The remaining four cards are placed in the center, with the top card turned face-up to form the “kitty.”
  • Trump Suit: The face-up card is offered as a potential trump suit. Players take turns deciding whether to “order up” the card, making its suit the trump for that hand. If all players pass, the face-up card is turned down, and a second round of bidding occurs where players can name any other suit as trump.

Gameplay for Screw the Dealer Euchre

1. Dealing and Setting Up:

  • Dealing: The dealer shuffles the deck and deals 5 cards to each player, typically in groups of 2s and 3s. Four cards are left in the center, known as the “kitty,” with the top card turned face-up.
  • First Round of Trump Bidding: The player to the dealer’s left has the first opportunity to accept the face-up card’s suit as trump by saying “order it up.” If they pass, the decision moves clockwise around the table. If a player orders it up, the dealer adds the face-up card to their hand and discards one card face-down into the kitty.
  • Second Round of Trump Bidding: If all players pass in the first round, the face-up card is turned down, and a second round of bidding begins. In this round, players can name any suit except the one that was turned down. If a player chooses a suit, it becomes trump for the hand.
  • Screw the Dealer: If everyone passes again in the second round, the dealer is “screwed” and must choose a trump suit. This prevents a re-deal and keeps the game progressing.

2. Leading and Playing Cards:

  • Leading the Trick: The player to the dealer’s left leads the first trick by playing any card from their hand. The card played determines the “lead suit” for that trick.
  • Following Suit: All other players must follow the lead suit if they have a card in that suit. If a player doesn’t have a card in the lead suit, they can play any card from their hand.
  • Playing Trump: If a player doesn’t have a card in the lead suit, they can choose to play a trump card to try to win the trick. The trump suit was established during the bidding phase and has the power to beat any card in another suit.

3. Winning Tricks:

  • Determining the Winner: The highest card of the lead suit wins the trick unless a trump card is played. If one or more trump cards are played, the highest trump card wins the trick.
  • Collecting Tricks: The player who wins a trick leads the next one. This continues until all five tricks have been played.

Euchre Scoring System

  • Makers’ Obligation: The team that selected the trump suit (the “makers”) must win at least three of the five tricks to avoid being euchred.
  • Point Allocation:
    • 1 Point: If the makers win three or four tricks, they earn 1 point.
    • 2 Points: If the makers win all five tricks, they earn 2 points.
    • Euchred (2 Points to Opponents): If the makers win fewer than three tricks, they are euchred, and the opposing team earns 2 points.
  • Going Alone: If a player opts to “go alone” (play without their partner), they can score more points:
    • 4 Points: If the solo player wins all five tricks, their team earns 4 points.
    • 1 Point: Winning three or four tricks alone usually earns 1 point, depending on house rules.
  • Winning the Game: The game continues until a team reaches 10 points.
Screw the Dealer Comparison
Screw the Dealer Comparison

Additional House Rules for Screw the Dealer Euchre

Different regions have their own twists on the Screw the Dealer Euchre rule. Here are a few popular variations:

VariationDescription
Standard Screw the DealerIf all players pass on calling trump, the dealer must choose a trump suit to keep the game moving.
Must PlayThe dealer must choose a trump suit and play the hand, even if it means playing a weak hand.
Stick the DealerIf all players pass on the opportunity to name trump during the first round of bidding, the dealer is then “stuck” and must choose a trump suit in the second round.
Screw the Dealer with KittyIf the dealer is stuck, they may exchange some cards from the kitty (remaining cards) before choosing trump.
Dealer’s ChoiceThe dealer can pick any suit as trump or opt to “play alone” for bonus points.
Screw the Dealer with Points PenaltyIf the dealer fails to make a successful call, they receive a points penalty.
Round-Robin Screw the DealerIf the dealer is forced to choose trump and fails to win the hand, the role of dealer rotates until a successful trump is chosen.
Screw the Dealer with JokerThe dealer can call a joker (if included in the deck) as a wild card.
Community Screw the DealerIf the dealer fails to make a call, all players must agree on the trump suit, ensuring consensus.
Pass the BuckIf the dealer doesn’t want to choose trump, they can pass the decision to the next player, who must then choose.

What is Screw Your Neighbor Euchre?

“Screw Your Neighbor” is a fun twist on the traditional Euchre game. It introduces an element of betrayal and strategic mischief, making it a hit at gatherings.

How Screw Your Neighbor Euchre Works

  1. Basic Overview:
    • In Screw Your Neighbor Euchre, the game is played much like traditional Euchre, with one significant twist: players have the opportunity to pass on a problematic hand or decision to their neighbor, forcing them into a difficult situation.
    • The main objective is still to reach a pre-determined number of points (usually 10) to win the game.
  2. Key Rules:
    • Trump Selection: As in regular Euchre, a trump suit is chosen. However, in this variation, if a player is in a tough spot (e.g., they have a weak hand), they can opt to pass the responsibility of choosing the trump suit to their neighbor. The neighbor must then make the decision, potentially placing them at a disadvantage.
    • Forcing Plays: If a player suspects their neighbor is in a strong position, they might force them to play their hand in a specific way (e.g., making them lead with a particular suit), which can disrupt their strategy.
    • Scoring: Scoring remains similar to traditional Euchre.
Screw the Dealer Drinking Game
Screw the Dealer Drinking Game

Strategies for Playing Euchre with Screw the Dealer

  1. Predict Opponent Moves:
    • Observe bidding patterns and card plays.
    • Notice which players consistently pass during the trump calling phase.
    • Track trump plays and reactions to certain cards.
  2. Evaluate Your Hand:
    • Consider the overall balance of your hand, not just high-value cards.
    • Assess suit distribution for potential trump suits.
    • Estimate the number of tricks you can win with different trump suits.
  3. Strategic Bidding:
    • Pass early with weak hands to gather more information.
    • Bid aggressively with strong hands to control the game.
    • Occasionally bluff with a bold bid to mislead opponents.
  4. Play the Hand:
    • Lead with your highest trump card to establish dominance.
    • Save high cards for critical moments to secure trick wins.

FAQ for Screw the Dealer Euchre

What does screw the dealer mean in Euchre?

It means the dealer is forced to choose a trump suit if all other players pass on making a choice.

How do you play screw the dealer in Euchre?

Follow the standard Euchre rules, but if everyone passes on the first round of calling trump, the dealer must choose a trump suit.

What are the rules for Euchre?

Euchre rules vary by region, but the basic premise involves playing tricks and calling a trump suit. The Screw the Dealer rule is a common variation.

What is the most common Euchre variation?

1. Double Deck Euchre: Uses two decks shuffled together, creating a more complex game with additional strategy.
2. Bid Euchre: Players bid on the number of tricks they believe they can win, adding a strategic bidding element.
3. Joker Euchre: Incorporates jokers as wild cards, which can be used in various ways to enhance the game’s strategy.