If the maker of the trump does not want a partner, he may either say “alone” or he may ask for a suit of which he holds the ace himself.
If the maker of the trump and his partner get three tricks, they score 1 point each. If they win all the tricks, they score 3 points each if there are five or six in the game; 2 points if there are not more than four players. If the partnership is euchred, each of the others at the table scores 2 points.
For a lone hand, winning all five tricks, the player scores a point for as many players as there are at the table, including himself. Euchres score 2 for every other player but the lone hand. A lone hand making three or four tricks only, scores 1.
500, OR BID EUCHRE.
In this variety of euchre, the joker is always used. When there is a trump suit, it is the best trump; but when there are no trumps, it is a suit by itself, but still a trump. The player holding it cannot trump with it as long as he can follow suit; but when he has none of the suit led, he can trump with the joker if he likes. When the joker is led in a no-trump hand, the leader must name the suit that he wishes played to it.
Five hundred is supposed to be a game for three players, but sometimes two play against two as partners.
The dealer gives ten cards to each player, three and then two at a time as in the ordinary game of euchre; but after dealing the first three cards to each he lays off three cards face down for a widow. This widow is taken in hand by the successful bidder, who discards three cards in its place.
The players bid for the privilege of naming the trump suit, or of playing without any trump but the joker. The number of tricks bid must not be less than six, and the suit must be named at the same time. The player having the most valuable game, regardless of the number of tricks or the suit, is the successful bidder, because a bid of seven in hearts, for instance, is worth more in points than a bid of eight in clubs, as will be seen from the following table.
| If trumps are: | 6 tricks. | 7 tricks. | 8 tricks. | 9 tricks. | 10 tricks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spades | 40 | 80 | 120 | 160 | 200 |
| Clubs | 60 | 120 | 180 | 240 | 300 |
| Diamonds | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 |
| Hearts | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| No-trumps | 120 | 240 | 360 | 480 | 600 |