Euchre for Palm OS Manual
from Stand Alone, Inc.
Table of Contents
1 Welcome and Registration
1.1 About Euchre
1.2 System Requirements
1.3 Registering Euchre
1.4 Contacting Stand Alone Inc.
1.4.1 Business Hours
1.4.2 Email
1.4.3 Phone
1.4.4 Regular Mail
1.4.5 World Wide Web
1.5 Reporting Bugs
2 Playing Euchre on Your Palm Device
2.1 Installing Bridge for the Palm OS
2.2 Starting a New Game
2.3 Details of the Screen
2.3.1 The Players' Hands
2.3.2 The Kitty
2.3.3 Score Display
2.3.4 Tricks Taken Display
2.4 Game Play Overview
2.5 Beginning a Hand of Play
2.5.1 Dealing
2.5.2 Naming Trump
2.6 Playing a Trick
2.6.1 The Maker
2.6.2 Playing Cards
2.6.3 Taking Tricks
2.7 Scoring
2.7.1 Points
2.7.2 Ending a Hand
2.7.3 Final Scoring
3 Euchre Strategy Tips
3.1 Naming Trump
3.1.1 Picking It Up
3.1.2 Pick It Up Defensively
3.1.3 Dealer Advantage
3.1.4 Stick The Dealer Optional Rule
3.1.5 Going It Alone
3.2 The Tactics of Winning Tricks
3.2.1 Leading
3.2.2 Defending
3.3 Glossary of Game Terms
4 Menus and Preferences
4.1 Game Menu
4.1.1 New Game
4.1.2 Auto Play
4.1.3 Undo Round
4.2 Options Menu.
4.2.1 Score
4.2.2 Preferences
4.2.3 Game Options
4.2.4 Card Back
4.2.5 Backdrop Color
4.2.6 Beam
4.2.7 Enter Registration Code
4.2.8 Help
4.2.9 About Euchre
1 Welcome and Registration
1.1 About Euchre
Euchre is an electronic version of the card game for Palm Powered devices.
Included in this archive are the following packages:
Euchre.prc
This is the software package that you need to install on your Palm Powered
handheld.
Euchre Manual folder
This folder contains both a text and html version of this users manual,
as well as an images folder which contains the graphics for the html manual.
To use the html manual, open it using any web browser. The text manual can be
opened by any word processor.
license.txt
This file contains the software license agreement. Please read this before using
the software. By installing, copying, or otherwise using this software, you
agree to be bound by the terms of the license agreement.
order.html
Open this page in a web browser to automatically place Euchre in your Standalone,
Inc. shopping cart. If this does not happen automatically, tap or click the
link, and you will be taken to our web site.
readme.txt
This short file contains information on registration, ordering the software,
and the license agreement.
1.2 System Requirements
Euchre is designed to work on all Palm Powered devices.Throughout this manual, Palm Powered handheld is used to refer to any of these units.
1.3 Registering Euchre
Euchre is shareware, and costs $15.00.
The Euchre Demo will work for a 30 day trial period. At the end of the 30 Days, it will stop working. To avert this tragedy, you will need to get in touch with Stand Alone to register your software. You can register with us by several different methods. Before it expires, it is fully functional, with no hidden features.
You will need to include the following information, no matter how you choose to register. Most importantly, you need to include your name EXACTLY as it is entered in your Palm Powered handheld, including spaces. We use this to generate your password, so it must be accurate. You will need to specify which programs you wish to register, and include payment for each of them. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. If you are using normal mail, you can send us a check as well. Make sure to include your card number, the expiration date, and what type of card you are using. You also need to give us a way to get in touch with you. Email is the preferred way, followed by your address and phone number. An Email address is not strictly necessary, but it will result in much faster service.
The easiest way to register our software is to use our on-line order form.
For instant gratification, register by phone, and pay using Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. To do so, call (773) 477-2492 and we will give you a password right over the phone.
Alternatively, you can send us a check to the address below.
You can also email us. Just email us the relevant information, and we'll send
you a code. It is also possible to purchase Euchre through Palm Gear HQ at:
www.palmgear.com
Once you register, you will receive a password from us. To install the password, first tap on the Menu silkscreen button. Then, select Options, and tap Enter Registration Code. Finally, enter your password on the space provided.
1.4 Contacting Stand Alone Inc.
There are several ways to get in touch with us here at Stand Alone, Inc, but email is the preferred form of communication. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or compliments, please don't hesitate to contact us through any of the methods listed below.
1.4.1 Business Hours
Stand Alone is open from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday to Friday. We are closed on Saturday and Sunday. These times are CST and GMT -5.
1.4.2 Email
internet: info@standalone.com
1.4.3 Phone
Voice: (773) 477-2492
Fax: (773) 477-2579
1.4.4 Regular Mail
Stand Alone, Inc.
3862 N. Lincoln Ave., 2nd Floor
Chicago IL, 60613
USA
1.4.5 World Wide Web
http://www.standalone.com
1.5 Reporting Bugs
If you find a bug in our software, it would be helpful if you reported the bug to us. To report a bug, please Email us with Bug Report Request in the subject line. In the Email, include the following information:
What type of Palm Powered device you are using (e.g. Personal)
The software name and version number (e.g. Super Names v1.34)
The error message
A brief description of how we can recreate the error
Your name and Email address so we can contact you when the bug is fixed
When reporting bugs, it is best to Email us, rather than calling, so that the programmers have a written record of the information they need to solve the problem. As soon as we receive your Email, the programmer will examine the problem, and fix it. Because our programmers are busy creating software, it can take a while for them to reply, but they will release a new version of the software that fixes the bug as soon as they can.
2 Playing Euchre on Your Palm Device
This section of the manual contains instructions on using Euchre for the Palm OS, and explains basic rules of Euchre. See Section 3 for simple strategy and tactics to help you play.
2.1 Installing Euchre for the Palm OS
To install Euchre, follow the normal procedures for installing any software on your Palm device.
2.2 Starting a New Game
To start a new game, first open Euchre by tapping on its icon in the Applications screen. Once Euchre is open, tap the Menu Button, select the Game menu, and tap "New Game."
2.3 Details of the Screen
2.3.1 The Players' Hands
Euchre for the Palm OS displays your hand at the bottom of the screen. To the right and left are your opponents' hands. At the top of the screen is your partner's hand.
2.3.2 The Kitty
The cards remaining after dealing, or "kitty," appear just above your hand.
2.3.3 Score Display
Your score is displayed at the top of the screen, separated by a slash from your opponents' score.
2.3.4 Tricks Taken Display
The number of tricks taken in the current hand of play are displayed at the top of the screen to the right of the score, separated by a slash from your opponents' trick count.
2.4 Game Play Overview
Euchre is played using a 24 card deck, A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9 of each suit. Four players are divided into two partnerships, partners facing each other. Points are accumulated by a partnership by winning rounds, or tricks, of which there are five in a hand of play. Partners who name the high suit, the trump, at the beginning of a hand, must win at least three of those tricks to earn points. They will lose points if they win fewer than three. The object of a game is to be the first to score 10 points.
2.5 Beginning a Hand of Play
2.5.1 Dealing
Five cards are dealt to each player out of the 24 card deck. The remaining four cards are placed in a pile called the "kitty," which appear in the center. The top card of the kitty is turned face up on top of the other three cards, which are face down underneath.
2.5.2 Naming Trump
Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player has an opportunity to accept the face-up card on the kitty as trump, or to pass. If the player passes, the opportunity to choose proceeds to the next player in a clockwise direction. You may choose to accept the card's suit as trump by selecting either "Go [it] Alone" or "Pick it Up," also called "Order It Up."
Going it alone means that you will play without a partner. It is also possible to choose to go it alone if the opposing partnership has named trump. Tap the screen to continue if another player "picked it up." When a player picks it up, the dealer exchanges a card from his hand with the face-up card. If you are the dealer, tap to select a card from your hand.
If all players pass, each player may choose another trump suit in turn, again beginning with the dealer's left, or may pass. Given the opportunity to name a trump, tap the symbol for the suit you choose, and then tap "Call Trump," or "Go Alone" to play without a partner.
If all players pass the deal is discarded and begins anew. (If the "stick the dealer" optional rule is selected under "Game Options " in the Options menu, the dealer must name a trump suit instead if all players have passed.)
2.6 Playing a Trick
2.6.1 The Maker
The player who has accepted the face-up card as trump or named another suit, who is known as the maker, is marked by a symbol of the chosen trump suit in front of his hand. That player and partner must try to win at least three tricks.
2.6.2 Playing Cards
The player to the left of the dealer "leads" by playing any card. (To play a card, tap it.) Other players in turn, going clockwise around to the dealer, must follow the lead by playing a card of the same suit, if possible. If a player is unable to follow the suit, that player may play any card he has. The trick is finished when each player has played one card.
2.6.3 Taking Tricks
The trick is won or "taken" by the player who played the highest card in the trump suit, or if no cards of the trump suit were played, the one who played the highest card of the suit originally led. The highest card of the trump suit is the jack, also called the "right bower." The jack of the suit that is the same color as the trump suit, known as the "left bower," counts as the second-highest trump. After the left bower, the trump suit ranks A, K, Q, 10, 9 from high to low. Other suits rank A, K, Q, J, 10, 9 from high to low.
2.7 Scoring
The partnership of the maker scores points by winning at least three of the five tricks. Otherwise, the opposing partners score points.
2.7.1 Points
The maker's partnership scores one point for winning three or four tricks. They get 2 points for winning all five, which is called a "march." But if they win fewer than three tricks, they are "euchred" and the opposing partnership scores two points. The score for a march is doubled if a player goes alone, but other scoring is unchanged. Therefore a player should only go it alone if he can win all five tricks. Likewise, a defending player who goes it alone only scores differently if he shuts out the maker by winning all five tricks; in that case, the score gained is 4 instead of 2.
2.7.2 Ending a Hand
At the end of each hand, Euchre for the Palm OS displays the scores for you and your opponents. After you see your scores, tap the OK button to review each player's hand. Tap the screen to begin the next hand.
2.7.3 Final Scoring
Scoring 10 points wins a game. A shut out is called a "slam" and is worth 2 games. Select "Score " from the Options menu to see the tally of games won and lost and the number of slams.
3 Euchre Strategy Tips
This section of the manual contains some of the more basic strategy for naming trump and tactics for taking tricks. This should not be considered an exhaustive strategy guide. At the end of this section is an appended glossary of selected game terms.
3.1 Naming Trump
3.1.1 Picking It Up
If you have a good chance of winning two tricks and some chance of a third, it is usually a good idea to accept the suit showing as trump ("pick it up"). Even if your chance to take a third trick doesn't succeed, your partner can probably manage to take at least one trick, bringing you to the necessary three. If you have both bowers, you should choose to pick it up regardless of the other cards you have, since you are guaranteed at least two tricks.
3.1.2 Pick It Up Defensively
When deciding whether to pick it up, determine whether a daring or conservative strategy is wisest depending on the score of the match. Sometimes it is best to pick up the suit even if you only have a mediocre hand, in order to prevent your opponents from scoring more than two points.
3.1.3 Dealer Advantage
Take into account that the dealer and partner will have a slight advantage, regardless of who is the maker, because the player to the dealer's left will have always have first choice to pick it up. That means the dealer will be more likely to be able to follow with assurance of winning the trick, once the three other cards have been played.
3.1.4 Stick The Dealer Optional Rule
Using the "stick the dealer" optional rule, the dealer with a strong array of high cards in only the suit showing should accept it, rather than risk being forced to name another. If the dealer refuses the showing suit and the next player passes, as the dealer's partner you should name a trump, even for a suit with a marginal hand.
3.1.5 Going It Alone
With a very good chance to take four tricks, going alone might be the best move. Even if your remaining card is low, a card to beat it might not be in the hands of your opponents, or they may throw those cards away on other hands. Given the chance to make 2 extra points for a march, consider whether the score of the match will allow you to risk a greater chance of losing two points.
3.2 The Tactics of Winning Tricks
3.2.1 Leading
Most of the control over the tactical game of winning tricks occurs in the choice of what card to lead. When leading, the question is whether to lead with high trump card in order to draw them out safely (because the other players must follow suit) or whether to throw away lower cards, especially ones of other suits, holding trumps in reserve. If you have high trumps such as bowers, it is usually best to lead with them first. This may clean out your opponents' trumps, especially since a trump might be buried in the kitty. Alternatively, leading a weak card in a non-trump suit may allow your partner to win the trick with a low trump or a high card of that suit.
3.2.2 Defending
When defending against the maker, it is important to take any trick you can. Defenders should usually lead with a strong card, unless it is clear that doing so would mean losing the trick to a higher card. The important thing in defense is preventing the maker from scoring a march.
3.3 Glossary of Game Terms
bower
The jack of the trump suit, or the jack of the same color. See "left bower"
and "right bower."
defenders
The players who are opponents of the maker and the maker's partner. See "maker."
euchre
Preventing the maker's side from taking at least three tricks. A maker who takes
fewer than three tricks is described as "euchred."
hand
The cards dealt to one player, or the entire deal as a whole.
kitty
The cards remaining after the deal, one of which is initially turned face-up
on top of the others.
lead
The first card played in a trick, or being the first player who gets to play
a card.
left bower
The jack of the suit which is the same color as the trump suit, i.e. the second-highest
ranking trump.
maker
The player who determines trump, whether by "ordering up" the face-up
card on the kitty, or by naming a trump suit after the face-up card has been
rejected by each player in turn.
march
The taking of all five tricks by either partnership.
ordering it up
Accepting the suit of the face-up card on top of the kitty as trump.
picking it up
See "ordering it up."
right bower
The jack of the trump suit, i.e. the highest-ranking trump card.
stick the dealer
An optional rule that prevents hands from being discarded by requiring the dealer
to name trump when every player has passed.
trick
A round of cards during play, taken by the highest card played.
trump
A suit determined by the maker which will outrank other suits during the hand.
4 Menus and Preferences
Euchre for the Palm OS has two menus that you can access by tapping the Menu silk-screen button.
4.1 Game Menu
The Game Menu includes three items.
4.1.1 New Game
Select this option to start a new game. This will reset the game scores to zero for both sides.
4.1.2 Auto Play
Auto Play directs Euchre for the Palm OS to play all of the hands. This option toggles on and off.
4.1.3 Undo Round
This option resets the game to the previous round. This is useful if you made a mistake in play and wish to correct it.
4.2 Options Menu
The Options menu contains five commands for changing game settings, and four other commands.
4.2.1 Score
This option will display game scores.
4.2.2 Preferences
Select this option to open a screen of game settings.
During AutoPlay
Select "Play Faster" instead of the default "Display Longer"
to speed up AutoPlay.
Draw full hand at end of round
Turn this option off to turn off automatic drawing at the end of a round.
Tap to end turn
This option determines whether a tap is necessary to end a turn.
Show Hands
Choose which hands are visible, north, east, or west. "'They' see all"
improves the Palm's ability to play.
4.2.3 Game Options
Select this to open a screen of three optional game rules.
QuickPlay
When this option is checked, a card is automatically played for you if there
are no other options.
No First Blood
Stick The Dealer
When this option is checked, the dealer must name a suit if all players have
passed.
4.2.4 Card Back
Use this command to choose between eight different possible card backs.
4.2.5 Backdrop Color
Use this command to choose from a palette of colors for the screen background.
4.2.6 Beam
Use this option to transfer Euchre for the Palm OS to another Palm device.
4.2.7 Enter Registration Code
Select this menu option to enter your registration code. See 1.3 Registering Euchre.
4.2.8 Help
This command displays an abbreviated in-game help screen.
4.2.9 About Euchre
This displays an information screen which indicates whether your copy of Euchre for the Palm OS has been registered.
Palm OS is a registered trademark of Palm, Inc.
Palm Powered is a trademark of Palm, Inc.