Every day, euchre is mentioned in multiple obituaries across the nation, noted as a favorite pastime. People say the game has come to symbolize togetherness, resilience and bonds that strengthen social fabric.
The Euchre Federation calls the game a cornerstone of cities and rural areas across the nation. “A ritual passed down through families at kitchen tables and school cafeterias,” according to the federation.
“I would say it’s a tradition and it’s mainly in Michigan, it's kind of a Midwest thing,” said Tracy Towers, co-owner of Primos BBQ in Cadillac. “Not everybody knows how to play, and it is a little bit weird, the rules are a little strange.”
Tracy’s husband, Jason Towers, says the game is passed down like a tradition in his family. With his parents and their friends or cousins gathering to play together while all their kids, Jason included, “caused chaos.”
Towers says he learned how to play Euchre at 5-years-old and often played with the adults as he got older.
Tracy Towers says the Euchre tournaments started at the Greenhouse event space, also co-owned and operated by the Towers’, because she and her husband played and noticed there wasn't a place for the community to play.
“Everybody’s thankful that we do it, it’s safe, it’s cheap, it’s family friendly,” said Jason. "Our joke is that growing up around here you could go bowling or go to the movies.”
According to Towers, there is a core group of people that comes to each tournament with some new players sprinkled in too. “We haven't had very many newbies, usually people are afraid to try it because it's kind of complicated,” says Towers.
Towers says their typical crowd is locals aged 20 to 80. Though most people have some experience with the game, Towers has noticed people gaining confidence and skill by the end of just one tournament night.
“People have said it's a nice safe environment, we have some older single ladies that come, and they don't feel comfortable going to a bar and they just love coming here,” said Towers.
Euchre was played by soldiers on both sides of the Civil War and as it spread during that time, variations developed and stuck within different areas of America.
In the Midwest, a “Stick the Dealer” rule is popular, forcing the dealer to choose the trump suit for a round after all other players have passed on the chance to “call trump.”
The game is played in partnerships, always with the person across from you at the table. Under certain circumstances, a player may want to play the round without their partner- typically when the players dealt hand contains cards that would allow them to gather the necessary 3 tricks alone. On the east coast, this is called the “Going Rule.” The Towers’ referred to this as “going alone.”
Some common variations of the game itself are Bid Euchre- players bid on the number of tricks they think they can win. Cutthroat Euchre- Each player plays for themselves in a cutthroat manner. Three-Handed- A rare variation that plays with three people.
Some players are sticklers for the rules and take the games more seriously than others, according to Towers. “We came up with a list of them and occasionally we have to add to it as things come up,” Towers said.
