Euchre, Version 4.6
Seahorse Software
http://www.seahorsesoft.com/
 
How To Play     Support     Disclaimer

This Program is Shareware
This program is shareware. In shareware mode, all of the features of the program are enabled. The only item disabled is the saving of the game when you exit. This means when you restart the game, you are forced to start a new game. Also, all of your settings and statistics are reset.

You are free to evaluate the program for as long as you like. But, if you enjoy the program, you are encouraged to register it.

To register this program, please visit:
http://www.PalmGear.com/

Once registered, you are entitled to free updates of the product for it's life.


How To Play
The players are You, Left, Partner, and Right (going clockwise from the bottom)

Tricks: (Your Team/Computer's Team)
Score: (Your Team/Computer's Team)

Trump: The suit (who called it)

How to play:
CARDS.
A pack of 24 cards: from a regular pack of 52 all twos to eights inclusive discarded.

The highest trump is the jack, called right bower. The second-highest is the other jack of same colour, called left bower. For example, if spades are trumps, the J of spades is the right bower and the J of clubs is left bower. The rest of the trump suit ranks: Ace (third-best), K, Q, 10, 9. In each non-trump suit the rank is: Ace (high), K, Q, J (if not left bower), 10, 9.

THE DEAL.
Each player receives five cards. The last card of the pack (belonging to the dealer) is turned face up on the table; this is the face-up-card.

MAKING.
The face-up-card proposes the trump suit for that deal, but it becomes trump only if some player accept it. Beginning with the player at the left of the dealer, each player in turn may pass or may accept the suit of the face-up-card (if it has not been accepted before him). If all four players pass, the face-up-card is turned face down. Then each in turn to left of he dealer has a second chance to pass or to name a trump suit (if none has been named ahead of him). The named trump suit must be different from the face-up-card.

Whoever decides the trump suit, by accepting the face-up-card or naming a trump in the second round, becomes the maker. The maker has the right to say "I play alone" whereupon his partner must discard his hand and stay out of the play.

THE PLAY.
If the turn-up is accepted, dealer has the right to use it as part of his hand, discarding any other card face down.

The opening lead is made by the player at left of the dealer, regardless of who is the maker.

The hands are played out in five tricks. A player must follow suit to a lead if able; if unable to follow suit, he may play any card. A trick is won by the highest card played of the suit led. The winner of a trick leads to the next.

SCORING.
Only the side that wins three or more tricks scores. Winning all five tricks is called march. When the making side fails to win the majority it is said to be euchred.

The making side, when both are playing, score 1 point for winning three or four tricks, or 2 for march. A maker playing alone scores 1 for three or four tricks, or 4 for march.

Opponents of the maker, when both are playing, score 2 for euchre.

GAME.
The side first to reach a total of 10 points wins a game.

Parts of these rules are from the Newly Revised HOYLE UP-TO-DATE Official Rules for All Important Games book, edited by Albert H. Morehead and Geoffrey Mott-Smith, © 1970

High-Resolution Enhancements
This program is enhanced to take advantage of the high-resolution screens on the HandEra 330, Sony Clié running Palm OS 4.x, and Palm OS 5.x devices. Enhancements generally are better graphics and use of extra screen space when the silkscreen is minimized (currently only on the HandEra 330).

Jog Dial/Wheel Enhancements:
This program has also been enhanced to take advantage of the Jog Dials and Wheels on various devices.

In the Statistics screen, you can use the Jog Dial up/down to toggle between Best Scores, Game Stats, and Round Stats. Pressing the Jog Dial in will return you to the playing screen.

You can also use the Jog Dial up/down in any of the on-line help screens. Pressing the Jog Dial will exit the help system.

Settings Help

  • Message Delay:
    Controls how long of a delay there is before game play resumes after a message is displayed (values in seconds).

  • Last Hand Delay:
    Sets how long the cards are displayed at the end of a round (values in seconds).

  • "Turbo" Play Mode:
    Makes the game go quicker by finishing a round if a euchre occurs in the middle of a round. Or if the score is 3-1/1-3, meaning the team with 3 points can't get 2 points for that trick. Turbo play also plays a card in your hand if it is the only card that can be played.

  • No Animations:
    Turns off animations.
Variants: (A check next to the option means it is enabled)
  • Screw the Dealer:
    The dealer MUST call trump if everyone passes twice.

  • Ace-No-Face:
    If a player has one Ace and no other face cards in their hand, then the player may call Ace-No-Face and the hand will be redealt.

  • Farmers Hand:
    If a player has three 9's OR three 10's (no combos), then the player may switch those three cards with the three buried beneath the turn up card.

  • Dirty Clubs:
    If a club card is turned up as the turn up card, then clubs automatically become trump, the dealer is forced to pick that card up (and may not go alone), and the game proceeds with the player to the dealers left starting the round.

  • No First Blood:
    Trump may not be lead in the first round (unless that is all the player has in their hand).

  • No Trump Call:
    If the turn up card is passed and subsequently turned down, then players may either call a suit, pass, or call "No Trump". If No Trump is called, then each card is worth it's face value. Currently no player may Go Alone if No Trump is called.
Color Settings (If using a color enabled device)
  • Box Fill:
    The color inside the boxes.

  • Playing Area:
    The color where the cards are played.

  • Default Colors:
    Sets the Box Fill and Playing Area to known colors.

Support


Disclaimer
All attempts were made to make a quality program that runs without glitches. But from time to time glitches (or bugs) do inadvertently appear in the program. You are encouraged to make frequent backups of your data to prevent loss. As such, Seahorse Software can not be held responsible for any data loss experienced by use of this program.

Also, Seahorse Software can not be held accountable for any addictions formed to our software. If your boss catches you playing this game at work, we also claim lack of knowledge ;)


Copyright ©2006 by James Lee, jlee@seahorsesoft.com