Euchre Farmer's Hand: What It Is and What You Can Do
Quick answer
A euchre farmer's hand is a weak hand of 9s and 10s with no face cards or aces. At tables that play the rule, you may show three of those low cards and swap them for the 3 cards in the kitty, or ask for a redeal.
It is a house rule, not part of standard euchre. Some tables count any three 9s or 10s; others need all five.
A farmer's hand means mostly 9s and 10s
The 9s and 10s are the lowest cards in a euchre deck. A hand full of them almost never wins a trick. Players call it a farmer's hand, and also a poor man's hand, bottom hand or grandma's hand. Tables define it in one of three ways:
- Strict: all 5 cards are 9s and 10s. Some people call this “no ace, no face.”
- Mixed: any three or more 9s and 10s, in any mix.
- Clean: three 9s, or three 10s.
Check your hand against all three versions
Tap five cards from the deck, or start from an example. The box tells you which versions of the rule your hand meets.
Try it: is this a farmer's hand?
Tap 5 cards to make a hand, or start from an example.
Maybe: 3 of your cards are 9s or 10s. It depends on your table's rule.
- All 9s and 10s (strict rule): no.
- Any three 9s or 10s (“mixed”): yes, swap three of them for the 3-card kitty.
- Three 9s or three 10s (“clean”): yes (you hold 3 nines and 0 tens).
You either swap with the kitty or ask for a redeal
Tables that use the rule handle it one of two ways:
- Swap (“going under”): after the deal and before trump is called, say “farmer's hand.” Show three of your 9s and 10s, put them face down, and take the 3 kitty cards. You must take all 3, sight unseen, so you might draw more low cards.
- Redeal: show your hand, and the dealer gathers and deals again. This is the usual answer to an all-9s-and-10s hand.
Some tables add one more condition: the cards you swap may not match the suit of the up-card.
An all-low hand is very rare
There are 42,504 different 5-card hands in a 24-card deck, and 8 of the cards are 9s and 10s. Counting every possible hand:
| Version | Hands | Chance | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| All 5 cards are 9s and 10s | 56 | 0.13% | 1 in 759 |
| Three 9s or three 10s | 1,560 | 3.7% | 1 in 27 |
| Any three or more 9s and 10s | 7,896 | 18.6% | 1 in 5 |
So the strict version almost never comes up. The mixed version comes up often enough to change the game, which is one reason some players dislike it.
Agree on the rule before the first deal
Because there is no single version, settle these questions at the start:
- Do you play the farmer's hand at all?
- Which hands count: all low, three of a rank, or any three 9s and 10s?
- Swap with the kitty, or redeal?
Our online game follows standard rules, with no farmer's hand. You play the cards you are dealt.
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Questions people ask
What is a farmer's hand in euchre?
A very weak hand made only of 9s and 10s, with no face cards and no aces. Many tables also count any hand with three 9s or 10s. It is a house rule, not part of standard euchre.
What happens when you get a farmer's hand?
Depending on the table, you either call for a redeal, or show three of your low cards and swap them for the 3 face-down cards in the kitty. The swap is a gamble: you cannot see the kitty first.
Is a farmer's hand an official euchre rule?
No. Standard rules from Bicycle and pagat.com do not include it, and tournaments do not use it. It is a popular home rule, so agree on it before the first deal.
How rare is a hand of all 9s and 10s?
Very rare: 56 of the 42,504 possible 5-card hands, about 1 in 759. Three or more 9s and 10s is much more common, about 19% of hands.
What is 'no ace, no face, no play'?
Another name some families use for the same idea: if your hand has no aces and no face cards (so only 9s and 10s), you may ask for a redeal.