otherwise.

Should your partner declare to play alone, and you have a fair trump
hand with no weakness in lay suits, it is good play to take it from him.

COUPS.

The following cases are offered to illustrate some of the fine points in
the game. Opportunities for making some of these plays occur
frequently, and every ambitious euchre-player should be familiar with
them. The easiest way to follow them is to place the cards on the table
as shown below.

A coup is when you depart from the ordinary established rules of play,
with certain reasons for each special case. Do not hesitate when
attempting a coup. Consider what the play of your adversaries means, as
well as that of your partner.

Bear in mind that coups are justified only in exceptional cases.

In all these cases A and C are partners. A is the dealer, and the
discard is supposed to have been properly made.

CASE I.

Refusing to over trump.

A

9 of clubs (turn-up),
Knave of clubs,
Ace, king of hearts,
8 of spades.

D B

King and 10 of clubs, Ace of clubs,
Ace, 9 of spades, Queen, 8 of hearts,
9 of hearts. Knave of diamonds,
10 of spades.

C

7, 8, and 10 of diamonds,
Queen of spades,
10 of hearts.

Score, love-all. A adopts the trump.

_First Trick._--B leads knave of diamonds, C plays the seven, D ruffs
with the ten of clubs, and A throws away the eight of spades.

_Second Trick._--D leads the ace of spades, A ruffs with the nine of
clubs, and both B and C follow suit.

_Third Trick._--A leads the right bower and catches the ace and king
from B and D, while his partner throws his small diamond.

_Fourth Trick._--in this case A will win whether he leads the ace or
king of hearts; but his play should be the king, since his partner
cannot help him in any way, and B might hold the left bower and pass the
king of hearts, when he would ruff the ace.

REMARKS.--If A goes over the ten of trumps with his right in the first
trick, he will be euchred. This is the simplest coup, and is in constant
use. It is not good euchre to do this when your partner has assisted.

CASE II.

Leading through assistance. When to continue with trumps.

A

King of hearts (turn-up),
Queen of heart