Bid Euchre
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| Origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Alternative names | Hoss, Pfeffer, Indiana Double Deck |
| Family | Trick-taking |
| Players | 2-6 (usually 4) |
| Skills required | Tactics & Strategy |
| Cards | 24, 32, 36, 48 (2x24) |
| Deck | Anglo-American |
| Play | Clockwise |
| Playing time | 20 min. (single deck) - 40 min (double deck) |
| Random chance | Low (double deck) - Medium (single deck) |
| Related games | |
| Euchre, 500, Hoss | |
Bid Euchre, is the name given to a group of card games played in North America based on the game Euchre. It introduces an element of bidding in which the trump suit is decided by which player can bid to take the most tricks. The primary differences are the number of cards dealt, absence of any undealt cards, the bidding and scoring process, and the addition of a no trump declaration. It is typically a partnership game for four players, played with a 24, 32 or 36-card pack, or even two decks of 24 cards each.
A pack of 24 cards containing 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A in each suit. The rank of the cards in the trump suit is: J (of trump suit, also known as the right bower; high), J (of the other suit of the same color as the trump suit, also known as the left bower), A, K, Q, 10, 9 (low). In the plain suits the rank is: A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9 (low). When playing with no trumps, all four suits follow the 'plain suit' ranking.
Cards are dealt one at a time to each player, clockwise, starting with the player to the dealer's left. Each player receives six cards.
Bidding is the key to the game, as it is essentially what makes it different from Euchre. Starting at the person to the left of the dealer, each player "bids" how many "tricks" he or she thinks it is possible to get in partnership with his/her partner (sitting across the table). Players may pass or bid, and a "one" bid is generally not used. Common bids are 3, 4, and 5.
There are some variations, but in most traditional pepper games the bidding only goes around the table once. That is, each player only bids once. At the end of bidding, he or she who bid the highest wins the bid and gets to name the suit which will become trump. Bidding does not generally exceed 5 (6 is maximum), as there are two special bids.
Note: In another variation of this game, known as "hawsy" (also short for Hasenpfeffer), the little pepper is known as "hawsy" and there is no big pepper. If one player bids hawsy, the next player can bid "double hawsy" for an attempt at 24 points.
Note: Another variation includes these 'pepper' bids, but calls them 12s and 24s as those are the points awarded. If a player calls 24, their partner can call 48. A call of 48 would mean that the calling player names the trump suit and their partner must take all 6 tricks alone with no pass card. This is rare but not impossible. The highest call would be a 96, and the calling player must decided on trump suit before seeing their cards, and then take all 6 tricks. Again, not impossible, but highly improbable.
To delineate a "two" bid, the terminology "a couple" is used; this is because of the special meaning given to the word "two." If a player holds two jacks of the same color (both "black" jacks or both "red" jacks), he/she can bid "two" to indicate to his/her partner this special possession. This gives the partner useful information when placing his/her bid. The only catch is when one wants to bid "two" but someone has already bid "a couple" or "three" or "four." It has often been the case for the player with the "two" bid to promptly say (after the higher bid was made), "Well, that shoots a two bid!" This technique was for a time successful at still communicating the "two" information to the partner; however, it is generally considered grounds for a misdeal and is therefore not allowed.
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