Going Under in Euchre
Going under is a Euchre house rule for a hopeless hand. If you are dealt three or more 9s and 10s you may, before the bidding starts, put three of them face-down under the kitty and take the three face-down kitty cards instead. It is not part of the standard rules, so you can only do it at a table that has agreed to it.
Play Euchre NowGoing under, step by step
- Look at your five cards. You need three or more 9s and 10s.
- Say “going under” before anyone bids.
- Slide three of your 9s and 10s face-down under the kitty.
- Take the three face-down kitty cards. The up-card stays put.
- Bidding begins as usual with the player to the dealer's left.
What going under means
Euchre is played with 24 cards. Twenty are dealt, five to each player, and four are left over as the kitty: one turned face up (the up-card) on top of three face-down cards. In the standard game those three cards are never seen. Going under lets one unlucky player reach into them.
The name describes the move itself: your worst cards go under the kitty and you pick up what was lying there. You still hold five cards, the up-card has not changed, and nothing about the bidding or the play is different afterwards. The terms used here are defined in the Euchre glossary.
The qualifying hand is known as a farmer's hand, and our farmer's hand guide covers which hands count.
When you can do it
- Only if the table plays the rule. Going under is a house rule. Ask before the first deal; if nobody mentions it, assume it is off.
- Only before the bidding. You announce it after picking up your cards and before the first player orders up or passes. You cannot wait to hear what others do.
- Only with a qualifying hand. The usual test is three or more 9s and 10s. With four or five of them you still exchange exactly three, and you choose which.
- Usually only one player per hand. There are only three cards to take. If two players qualify, most groups give the exchange to whoever comes first in turn order from the dealer's left, but agree on it beforehand.
Common versions of the rule
Because the rule lives at kitchen tables rather than in a rule book, the details differ. These are the versions you are most likely to meet:
| Detail | Most common | Also played |
|---|---|---|
| Which hands qualify | Three or more 9s and 10s in any mix | Three 9s, or three 10s, or a hand of nothing but 9s and 10s |
| What you get | The three face-down kitty cards | A redeal instead of an exchange |
| Proof | Announce it; the cards go under face-down | Show the three cards to the table first |
| How many players per hand | One, the first to claim it in turn order | Not allowed at all |
Many groups refuse the rule altogether on the grounds that it rewards a bad deal and slows the game. Other house rules of the same kind are collected on the Euchre variations page.
Should you go under?
Usually yes, if the rule is on. The three cards you give up are the lowest ranks in the deck, so the cards you pick up can hardly be worse. Two things are worth a moment's thought first:
- Keep low cards of the up-card's suit. A 9 or 10 of the turned suit becomes a trump if that suit is ordered up, and any trump can take a trick. If you hold four low cards, bury the ones in other suits.
- You are telling the table something. Everyone now knows your original hand was weak and that three low cards are out of play. In a normal hand three unknown cards sit dead in the kitty; after someone goes under, those cards are known to be 9s and 10s, so every bower and every Ace is either in a hand or showing as the up-card. Expect fewer surprises when you count trumps.
The second point matters to the other three players too. If an opponent goes under and then orders up, they found something good in the kitty. Bid and lead with that in mind; the ordering up guide covers what a sound bid looks like.
Going under on CardCouch
CardCouch does not offer going under. Our free Euchre game follows the standard rules: four players in two partnerships, you and a computer partner against two computer opponents, the 24-card deck, going alone, and first side to 10. Every hand is played as dealt. The one house rule that is switched on is stick the dealer, which means a weak hand can still be forced to name trump. That is good practice for the hands going under would let you escape.
Frequently asked questions
What does going under mean in Euchre?
Going under is a house rule for a player dealt a hopeless hand, usually three or more 9s and 10s. Before the bidding starts, that player puts three of those cards face-down under the kitty and takes the three face-down kitty cards in exchange. The up-card stays where it is and the hand is then bid and played as normal.
Is going under an official Euchre rule?
No. It is a house rule that varies from table to table, and it is not used in tournament play. You may only go under if everyone at the table agreed to the rule before the game began.
When do you have to announce that you are going under?
After looking at your cards and before anyone has bid, that is, before the player to the dealer's left orders up or passes. Once the bidding has started the chance is gone.
Can the dealer go under?
In most groups that use the rule, yes. The dealer swaps with the three face-down kitty cards like anyone else and the up-card stays turned up, so the dealer can still pick it up if it is ordered.
Can I go under when playing Euchre on CardCouch?
No. CardCouch plays standard Euchre without the going under rule, so every hand is played as it was dealt. Stick the dealer is on, going alone is supported, and the game is to 10 points.
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