Card Games
Euchre bower
In euchre, a bower is a jack that ranks as a top trump. The right bower is the jack of the trump suit; the left bower is the jack of the same colour, promoted to second-highest trump.
Key points
- The right bower is the jack of the trump suit and is the highest trump card in euchre.1
- The left bower is the jack of the same colour as trump; it is treated as part of the trump suit and ranks second.2
- Both bowers outrank the ace of trump, making them the most powerful cards in a hand.3
- The term 'bower' applies to the euchre group of trick-taking games, not to standard poker or bridge rankings.1
How bowers work in play
- When trump is declared, the jack of that suit becomes the right bower — the highest card in the game.1
- The jack of the same colour (e.g., hearts if trump is diamonds) becomes the left bower and is promoted to second-highest trump.2
- Both bowers are considered part of the trump suit and beat any other trump card, including the ace.3
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Euchre rules — the full set of game procedures covering dealing, bidding, trick-taking and scoring, whereas a bower is only a card-ranking term within those rules
Related terms
Card games
Euchre deck
Explains the 24-card deck used in euchre, which includes the bowers.
Card games
Whist vs euchre
Compares the two trick-taking games, highlighting the bower ranking unique to euchre.
Card games
Hoyle euchre rules
Covers the standard Hoyle rules for euchre, including bower hierarchy.
Card games
10 rules of euchre
Lists the ten essential rules of euchre, with bowers as a key element.
Card games
Official euchre rules
Details the official rules of euchre, including the role of right and left bowers.
Card games
Buck euchre rules
Explains buck euchre variations, where bowers may have special scoring.
Sources
- Card Games: Euchre Group pagat.com Defines the right and left bower and their ranking in the euchre group.
- Glossary of card game terms en.wikipedia.org Confirms the left bower is treated as part of the trump suit.
- Euchre bicyclecards.com States that both bowers outrank the ace of trump.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.