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The player who chooses the trump suit, either by accepting the faceup card's suit as trump or by naming a different suit, is called the "maker." Before the play of the hand begins, the maker may announce, "I play alone" or "Stay at home," in which case maker's partner places his or her hand facedown and does not participate in the play. Either of the defenders (the two players not on the maker's side) may also choose to play alone, though this is rare.
Now the play begins. The player to the left of the dealer leads any card by placing it faceup on the table. Each player in turn, moving clockwise order around the table, must play a card of the same suit led, if able. If unable to follow suit, a player may play any card. When all four players have played a card, the "trick" is complete. The trick is won by the player who played the highest trump or, if no trumps were played, by the player who played the highest card in the suit originally led.
The trump suit is special in Euchre. The jack of that suit, called the right bower, is the highest-ranking trump. The jack of the suit that's the same color as the trump suit, called the left bower, is the second highest ranking trump. After that, the trump suit ranks, from highest to lowest, A, K, Q, 10, 9. In other suits, ranks from high to low are A, K, Q, J, 10, 9.
The partnership of the player who names trump must try to win at least three of the five tricks. Doing so scores points; failing to do so scores points for the opponents.
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