Farmer's Hand in Euchre
A farmer's hand is a Euchre hand made up mostly of 9s and 10s, the weakest cards in the deck; the usual definition is three or more of them. Under the house rule of the same name, the player may show those cards before the bidding and either swap three of them for the face-down cards of the kitty or ask for a redeal. It is a house rule, not a standard one, and the details change from table to table.
Play Euchre NowThe most common version
- You are dealt three or more 9s and 10s.
- Before anyone bids, you announce a farmer's hand and show the three cards.
- You place them face down under the kitty.
- You take the kitty's three face-down cards into your hand. The up-card stays where it is.
- Bidding then starts as normal.
This exchange is called going under. Treat it as the usual starting point rather than the rule: the sections below list what other tables do differently.
Why a hand of 9s and 10s is so bad
Euchre uses 24 cards, the 9 through the Ace of each suit, so 9s and 10s are the bottom of every suit. Off-suit they lose to everything; even as trumps they are the two lowest of the seven (see the card ranking). A hand with three or more of them has at most two cards that can realistically win a trick, which is why some groups take pity on it.
The versions you will meet
There is no governing text for this rule, so none of these is "the official one". They are simply the forms that turn up most often.
| Question | What tables play |
|---|---|
| Which hands qualify? | Three or more 9s and 10s in any mix (most common); three 9s or three 10s specifically; or all five cards 9s and 10s (strictest). |
| What is the remedy? | Swap three cards with the three face-down kitty cards (going under), or declare a misdeal so the hand is dealt again. |
| When must it be declared? | Usually before the up-card is acted on, meaning before the first player orders up or passes. Looser tables allow it up to your own first turn to bid. |
| Must the cards be shown? | Usually yes, so the claim can be checked. Some tables let them go under unseen and rely on trust. |
| How many players per deal? | Usually one. The kitty has only three face-down cards, so after one exchange it holds nothing but the first player's rejects. |
| Can the dealer use it? | At most tables, yes. The up-card is left in place and the dealer may still pick it up later if it is ordered. |
Because so much varies, settle three things before the first deal: which hands count, swap or redeal, and the deadline for calling it.
Ace no face and "no ace, no face, no trump"
Two related redeal rules are often mentioned in the same breath, and some families call all of them a farmer's hand.
- Ace no face. A hand with an Ace but no King, Queen or Jack, in other words one or more Aces and the rest 9s and 10s, may be declared a misdeal.
- No ace, no face, no trump. A hand with no Aces, no face cards and no card of the turned-up suit: five 9s and 10s in the other three suits. The holder shows the hand and the cards are dealt again.
Both end in a redeal rather than a kitty swap. Whether the same dealer deals again or the deal passes is, once more, a table decision.
Why many tables do not allow it
- Bad hands are part of the game. Euchre is a partnership game; a hopeless hand is exactly when you rely on your partner. Rescuing it removes that.
- It leaks information. Everyone sees three low cards leave play and knows one player has just taken three unknown cards. That changes how the hand is bid.
- It slows the evening down. Redeals in particular add hands that score nothing, the same complaint that is answered by stick the dealer.
- It is not used in tournaments. If you learn to lean on it at home, you will miss it everywhere else.
Playing a farmer's hand without the rule
Most of the time you simply have to play it. Pass in both rounds unless you are a stuck dealer. Whoever calls, a 9 or 10 of trump is still a trump: it beats any off-suit Ace when you are void in the suit led. So when you cannot win a trick and hold a small trump, throw off from your shortest side suit to create that void. If the opponents call, one trick from your hand may be all your partner needs for a euchre. The Euchre strategy guide covers defending in more depth.
Is it played on CardCouch?
No. CardCouch's Euchre is the standard four-player partnership game to 10 points, you and a computer partner against two computer opponents, and it does not implement the farmer's hand, going under or ace no face. Every hand is played as dealt. The only common house rule in force is stick the dealer. For the other rules you may meet at a real table, see the Euchre variations guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a farmer's hand in Euchre?
A farmer's hand is a hand made up mostly of 9s and 10s, the lowest cards in the Euchre deck. The most common definition is three or more 9s and 10s. Under a house rule of the same name, a player dealt one may show those cards before bidding and either swap them for the face-down cards of the kitty or ask for a redeal. It is not part of the standard rules.
Is the farmer's hand an official Euchre rule?
No. It is a house rule with no single agreed version, and it is not used in tournament play. Tables differ on which hands qualify, whether the remedy is a swap or a redeal, and when it has to be declared, so agree on the details before the first deal.
What does ace no face mean in Euchre?
Ace no face is a related house rule: a hand that holds an Ace but no King, Queen or Jack may be declared a misdeal and the cards are dealt again. Like the farmer's hand it is a kindness rule for weak hands and is left out of serious play.
What is no ace, no face, no trump?
It is the strictest of the bad-hand rules: a hand with no Aces, no face cards and no card of the turned-up suit, which means five 9s and 10s in the other three suits. Tables that play it let the holder show the hand and call for a redeal.
Is a farmer's hand the same as going under?
They belong together. The farmer's hand is the weak hand itself; going under is the most common remedy, in which the player places three 9s and 10s face down under the kitty and takes the three face-down kitty cards instead. Some tables use the two names interchangeably.
Can I use the farmer's hand rule on CardCouch?
No. CardCouch plays standard four-player Euchre and does not implement the farmer's hand, going under or ace no face. Every hand is played as it was dealt. The one common house rule that is switched on is stick the dealer.