The card game of Euchre has many variants, including those for two, three, five or more players. The following is a selection of the Euchre variants found in reliable sources.

The following common rules apply to all the variants described excepted where stated:

A pack of 24, 28 or 32 cards is used. If a standard 52-card pack is used, the 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s and 6s are always removed. In addition, the 7s are removed to form a 28-card pack and the 7s and 8s to form a 24-card pack. In the trump suit the two top cards are the trump jack or right bower (RB), and the next jack (jack of the same color) or left bower (LB). Thus the card ranking is:

Deal and play are clockwise or alternate if there are two players. Eldest hand, the player to the left of the dealer, is always the first to receive cards, bid and lead to the first trick. In two-handed games, the non-dealer has this privilege.

Whist rules of play apply i.e. players must follow suit if able; otherwise may play any card. The player with the highest trump takes the trick or the player with the highest card of the led suit if no trumps were played. The trick winner leads to the next trick.

The following are commonly used euchre terms:

A basic two-player version simply called "Two-handed Euchre" was described as early as 1863 by George Pardon:

A 32-card Piquet pack is used. Players cut for deal, higher wins. Dealer deals two cards to non-dealer, then two to self; followed by three cards each in the same order. The 11th card is turned as a potential trump. Non-dealer may say "I pass", to reject the suit of the upcard as trump, or "I order it up" to accept it. In the latter case, the dealer discards a card, picks up the entrumped upcard and play begins. If non-dealer passes, the dealer may say "I'll play" and exchange with the upcard. If both pass, non-dealer may pass again or name any other suit as trumps; if non-dealer passes, the dealer has the same options. If both pass twice, the cards are thrown in and the deal changes hands.