Euchre Terminology

Knowing what the Euchre terminology means is essential for brevity of long strategy explanations. By defining terms, complex strategy explanations become much easier for flow.

Terms Used for Position
Position can be simplified by where the dealer is. It doesn't matter what actual seat you are in, everything is relative to where the dealer is at the time.

1st seat
The seat to the left of the dealer, being the first to bid and play.

2nd seat
The dealer’s partner, being the second seat to bid and play.

3rd seat
The seat to the right of the dealer, being the third seat to bid and play.

Terms Used for Calling
Calling can be simplified by defining the round in which a strategy gives a role for each position. Each seat can have a different role for the two different calling rounds.

Turn Up
The first round of calling, when you can only call the suit of the turn up card, calling it into the dealer’s hand.

Turn Down
The second round of calling, when everyone turned down the turn up card as trump, including the dealer.

Block
Calling to prevent a possible lone hand (4 points), risking a euchre (2 points).

Bagging
Not calling when your hand is decently strong. This is in anticipation that your opponents will call whatever suit your bagging. A no-brainer bag is when you have all 4 jacks, allowing your side good odds to euchre or make any call.

NOTE: This strategy is a two edged sword if your bagging any specific suit (or color) and your opponents (or partner) calls a different suit (or color).

Terms Used for Suit
Suit can be simplified based on the turn up suit. It doesn't matter what the suit is, each suit has a next and cross assigned to it.

Next
The suit that is the same color as the turn up card (If spades was flipped then "next" is clubs).

Cross
Either suit that is opposite color of the turn up card (If spades was flipped, a "cross" would be either hearts or diamonds).

Off
Once trump is made, an "off" suit is any suit other than trump (also called side suits).

Terms Used for Score
Score can be simplified by defining certain score positions.

Bridge
The point at which you are one point away from winning and the opponents are one lone hand from winning (you have 9 and they have 6 or 7, thus a lone hand can win for them).

While the "bridge" is a specific score position, you may substitute that position for anytime your opponents have 6 or 7 points in any strategy that mentions the "bridge". I.e. They are one lone hand away from winning and a "block" would prevent a win so you may choose to "block" at that time regardless of what your score is.

Mini-Bridge
Anytime you are ahead of your opponents by 3-4 points and they have the deal. A lone hand can put them ahead or tie your score, making it harder to win. A "block" call is more strategic for this score since a euchre can be absorbed and your team deals after.

A "mini-bridge" can be substituted in any strategy that mentions the "bridge", being a sound position for the same strategy.

Over-the-Bridge
Anytime you are ahead of your opponents by 5 or more points. Blocking is unsound at this point, given the odds of your opponents having a loner that your side cannot stop. While the opponents may catch up with a lone hand, the probability of them catching up due to blocking is higher (don't block your way into losing).