Stick the dealer in Euchre

By the Go Euchre team · Updated November 14, 2026

Stick the dealer is a house rule that makes the dealer name trump when everyone else passes twice. No hand is thrown in, and every deal is played.

The rule

In regular Euchre, if all four players pass in both rounds of bidding, the hand is thrown in and the deal moves to the left. With stick the dealer, the dealer can’t pass in round 2. If the first three players pass, the dealer is stuck and must name a suit as trump.

The usual round 2 rule still applies: nobody may name the suit of the card that was turned down. The stuck dealer picks one of the other three suits and may even go alone.

Everything else stays the same. If the dealer’s team takes 3 or more tricks, they score as usual. If not, they are euchred and the other team scores 2. All the points are on the Euchre scoring page.

Other names

The same rule is also called screw the dealer. A dealer who has to call is said to be stuck, and the call is a stuck call.

Why tournaments use it

• Every hand counts. No time is lost on deals that are thrown in.
• Games keep a steady pace, which helps when every table has to finish a round at the same time.
• It rewards careful bidding. Every player has to think about the dealer who may be stuck.

Many tournaments and leagues play stick the dealer, but not all of them. Check the house rules before your first game. More on the Euchre tournaments page.

Strategy for the stuck dealer

Being stuck usually means your hand is weak: you already passed on the turned card, and so did everyone else. Your goal is to pick the suit that gives your team the best chance at 3 tricks, and to accept that a euchre will sometimes happen.

• Count your cards in each suit. Name the suit where you hold the most trumps. Count a Jack of the same color, since it becomes the Left Bower.
• Look for a bower. If you hold the Jack of the turned-down suit, naming the other suit of that color makes it your Left Bower.
• Prefer length. Three small trumps often do more than a lone Ace of trump, because they let you trump the other team’s Aces.
• Count on your partner. Your partner passed twice, but they may still hold an Ace or a trump that helps.
• Don’t go alone on a forced call. A stuck hand is rarely strong enough for a loner. Play it with your partner.

A stuck hand, step by step

The turned card was the 9 of spades, and all four players passed it. In round 2 the other three pass again. As the dealer you hold:

Hearts would give you only two small trumps. Clubs is better: the Jack of spades becomes your Left Bower, the 10 of clubs is a second trump, and the Ace of diamonds is a likely trick. Name clubs and hope your partner adds one more trick.

Strategy for the other seats

Everyone at the table knows the dealer will have to call. That changes how the other three players bid in round 2.

• The dealer’s opponents. With a borderline hand, you can pass and leave the dealer stuck. A forced call on a weak hand is a good chance to euchre them. But don’t pass a strong hand: if you can make trump yourself, take the points.
• The dealer’s partner. Your partner may be forced to call with nothing. If you have a fair hand in round 2, call it yourself instead of leaving your partner stuck. If your hand is weak, pass and trust your partner to pick their best suit.
• Reading a stuck call. A stuck call tells you little about the dealer’s hand. Don’t read it as strength the way you would a free call.

For more on bidding in round 2, such as calling next, see Euchre strategy.

Playing stick the dealer in Go Euchre

Stick the dealer is off by default. To play with it against the computer, open Settings and switch on Stick the dealer under Rules. At a private online table, the host can turn it on under House rules for everyone at the table.

When the rule is on and you are the dealer, the game won’t let you pass in round 2. Pick one of the three suits you are allowed to name.

Questions and answers