Going alone in euchre

What is a loner in euchre?

A loner is a hand where one player on the team that called trump plays without their partner. The partner puts their cards face down and sits the hand out, so the lone player takes on both defenders.

The reward is in the scoring. A lone hand that takes all five tricks scores 4 points instead of the 2 for an ordinary march. Take three or four tricks alone and it is 1 point, the same as with a partner. Fail to take three and the lone player is euchred, and the defenders score 2.

Players usually go alone holding both bowers and another high trump, or when one point would not change much and four would win the game. The downside is limited: a euchred loner costs the same 2 points as any euchre.

Some tables let a defender go alone as well, and a lone defender who euchres the makers usually scores 4. In Score All you switch on "Maker went alone" when you enter the hand, and the values for a lone march, a lone hand of three or four tricks and defending alone are settings.

Where it applies

Related: Euchre scoring

This rule is a switch when you set up a game, so the scoreboard applies it for you. All scoring rules →