Does anybody know about this exellent card game, its origins and if it is Cornish or not?
fancyabrew
Posts: 1277
Posted: 25.Feb 2005 - 16:15
I've always been led to believe that its Cornish, never known it played anywhere else, but it isn't, its history is disputed but it started in mainland Europe sometime in the 18c
Kernow
Posts: 248
Posted: 25.Feb 2005 - 17:04
Hello Phil, in the UK Euchre is mainly played in Cornwall and some parts of Devon. The origins are unclear, the two handed game is similar to Ecarte, very popular in Paris around 1840. Some say it derives from juker and was taken to Pennsyvania by the Dutch. It became popular with the US navy, this may be why it is played in parts of Australia and New Zealand as well as the far west of the States.
I can never tell my right benny from my left.
Rowan
Posts: 12
Posted: 25.Feb 2005 - 17:16
I don't think it's just West Country. I don't know where else it's played, but I do know it's played in Kent.
Fulub-le-Breton Posts: 3504
Posted: 25.Feb 2005 - 19:34
Jack of spades and hearts on the right, diamonds and clubs on the left. the Benny is the top card and we always used the 2 of spades
Tumbled
Posts: 135
Posted: 25.Feb 2005 - 20:16
Great game Euchre, I always thought it was a Cornish game exported overseas by the Cornish miners. I know it is played in Canada, Australia, NZ and S Africa. I have a friend originally from Perth who swears it was invented in W Australia. Still played though in most Cornish pubs (and some in Devon). Unbeatable hand is Benny, Left, Right, Ace and King - 4 pointer !!
Joe
Posts: 755
Posted: 25.Feb 2005 - 21:33
Euchre is very much a Cornish game and there are several leagues in The Duchy. The origins, as Kernow noted, are vague.
In areas where the Cornish settled (Michigan, California, Victoria, South Africa), there are euchre leagues so I think the US Navy theory is quite weak.
However, many card games were brought back from sea where sailors picked up games from shore leave (often learnt the hard way through gambling with the locals and losing) and played on the boa to relieve the boredom.
I used to play it with my grans who would win my pocket money and not pay it back. We'd play Newmarket as well.
I could never work out the difference between a right bower and a left bower.
michael407301
Posts: 1
Posted: 19.Oct 2005 - 21:39
I have played Euchre for many years now and have also been told that the game originated from Cornwall.Living in Devon all my life and becoming the drinking age 26 years ago I was taught Euchre down at my local.Then as now,and many many years before me,there has been great interest in this game with many Euchre leagues in my area.
As for left and right bowers,these are the Jacks in the pack.It depends on which suit has been called for which Jacks are active as bowers.Say Hearts are called,the Jack of hearts will become the right bower,being a heart,and the second highest card .The jack of diamonds,being red as well,will become the left bower the third highest card.If diamonds are called the Jack of diamonds becomes the right bower and the Jack of hearts the left bower.The two black jacks are not active as trumping cards in these two cases.
However the two black Jacks are active if either of there suits are called as trumps.So treat them as the same as the red Jacks explained above.In this case the red Jacks are not active as trumping cards.
I hope this explains the "bowers" and is not to complicated.
Anyway this is a great pub game and who ever plays it enjoy.
nxylas
Posts: 346
Posted: 19.Oct 2005 - 21:56
Greece, for one.
morgarrow Posts: 337
Posted: 19.Oct 2005 - 22:01
Most references I've seen suggest the game has either German or possibly Alsation. I expect many of the Cornish who worked/lived in the US brought the game home. However there were thousands of US troops stationed in Cornwall prior to D-day so there is a possibility they made it popular or maybe a combination of the two.
".....it is believed that the Joker was added to the pack by American Euchre players who, when modifying Euchre rules sometime during that era, decided that an extra trump card was required. The Joker was first called the Best Bower. In the game of Euchre two of the Jacks are named Right and Left Bower; this happened during the 1860s in the USA. Bower is a corruption of the German word Bauer used in Alsace, from where Euchre or Juker originated as the ordinary word for Jack. This card evolved into the Joker during the 1870s."
mynchya
Posts: 1
Posted: 28.Apr 2006 - 01:17
As the game is played in Canada, Australia & South africa Isuggest that it was spread by the cornish miners as it was played in cornwall long before the americans played it.
HazelM
Posts: 54
Posted: 8.Jun 2006 - 18:52
We played Euchre all the time as children - in America. It is a fun game but I don't hear much about it being played any more. Maybe in circles I am not a member of. Hazel
HazelM
Posts: 54
Posted: 8.Jun 2006 - 19:01
<<As the game is played in Canada, Australia & South africa Isuggest that it was spread by the cornish miners as it was played in cornwall long before the americans played it.>>
In all due respect, there were Cornish miners in USA as far back as they were in Canada. As a descendant of one, I am certain of that. I suspect the same is true about Australia which was being (forcibly) settled after America gained its independence. Hazel
Coady Posts: 1657
Posted: 23.Aug 2006 - 01:17
The game is popular worldwide, still called Euchre, but sometimes with varying rules. Heck, its one of the online games on Yahoo Games, you can play it online with thousands of others, 24 hours a day.
I honestly don't think its specifically Cornish.
Graham.
Hen
Posts: 772
Posted: 24.Aug 2006 - 04:52
I love Euchre. I've been playing it since I was knee-high to a grasshopper thanks to my Euchre-mad Pah.
Here is an interesting take on the history of Euchre.
angofbew Posts: 850
Posted: 24.Aug 2006 - 07:57
Ok listen up. Right bower is always the Jack of the Suit that is trumps. Left bower is the jack of the other suit that is the same colour, Simple
Bylen™
Posts: 31
Posted: 24.Aug 2006 - 23:13
Hehehaha, ^_^
Andy
Posts: 1
Posted: 7.Oct 2006 - 17:16
I was looking for the euchre rules through ask jeeves and got directed here! What a great site for a cousin jack!
We all played euchre incessantly durring our last couple of years at school. I guess the first ones to start heading for the pubs picked it up and brought it back. At official (+ unofficial breaks,) there would be 1/2 doz differant games going on.
We used the 2 spades as the Benny and the 7 and 8 cards were used as the scoring cards. 7 face down on top of the 8, uncovering the pips as the points accumulated. once past 7 points, the 7 was turned face up. So a game was 15 points.
the game is fast and furious especialy once everyone knows whats going on. As one lad once remarked, 'At least if you've got a crap hand - it's soon gone.'
I currently re-enact American Civil War and as the game is authentic for that era - in fact was very popular, I thought I would remind myself how it was played and introduce it to the boys. As I hav'nt played it for over 30 years I thought I'd better do a rules search, trouble is like most things cornish... the rules vary!!
Andy C.
dontmeanathing Posts: 1
Posted: 8.Nov 2007 - 14:33
My favorite on line game. I play a online card site in tournament (all free) and play against other online persons. If anyone is interested in a great on line site that still host many card and board games I would be happy to tell you the sites address if you email me as I don't think it would be appreciated if I put the address out publicly as it might be considered advertizing (not sure the rule for that here). But the site I am talking about is a well known name of playing cards (hint) and the site is free and open 24 hours and all year. I bet some of the Euchre hosts might have some history on the game but it looks like the history posted by kneehigh to a grasshooper sums it up very nicely. See ya at the tables.
