# Which U.S. State do You Associate With The Game Euchre?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [December 27, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236 "2012-12-27T00:26:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/21 "2012-12-27T02:50:31Z")

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No particular state, but a midwestern thing. On the other hand, I’m from Ohio, so I might be missing some perspective. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/22 "2012-12-27T03:32:18Z")

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Michigan.

haven’t read the responses yet.

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**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/23 "2012-12-27T03:45:03Z")

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I grew up in Ohio (suburban Cleveland), but never played the game, and don’t remember anyone I knew playing it, either. I might have known what it was, but the first person I remember identifying himself as a euchre enthusiast was a correspondent from Wisconsin. Since moving to Indiana, I’ve learned the game is popular in at least some Lafayette-area circles. So the Badger and Hoosier states.

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**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/24 "2012-12-27T04:01:27Z")

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> [@wmulax93](#):
>
> Michigan; specifically, da U.P.

I came in here to say Michigan, but only the Lower Peninsula. I don’t know very many native Yoopers who are into Euchre - we play cribbage up here - but I know a whole slew of transported downstaters who play Euchre all the time.

Maybe it’s different farther east, when you get closer to the bridge and the trolls.

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**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/25 "2012-12-27T04:13:47Z")

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This is so interesting to read because the debate between us was Wisconsin or Indiana. My mom says Wisconsin and my brother is just as certain that Indiana is the right answer.

Interesting that I am getting these Michigans. Didn’t see that coming…

(For the record I just said “it’s midwestern”)

Keep the responses coming though

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**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/26 "2012-12-27T04:29:02Z")

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> [@Sternvogel](#):
>
> I grew up in Ohio (suburban Cleveland), but never played the game, and don’t remember anyone I knew playing it, either. I might have known what it was, but the first person I remember identifying himself as a euchre enthusiast was a correspondent from Wisconsin.

This describes my situation, too, perfectly.

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**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/27 "2012-12-27T05:02:13Z")

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My father and mother have spent most of their lives in Wisconsin. They both play Euchre.

One of my father’s best friends who he met in the Army when they were both drafted during Vietnam (stationed in Germany) was from the UP of Michigan, and he played Euchre as well.

When I went to Northwestern, most of the Euchre players were Wisconsin or Michigan.

So I’ve always associated with those two states, pretty much equally. They also have high concentrations of Germans and Scandinavians, and Euchre originated in Germany, so that no doubt plays a significant role.

Of course, in Wisconsin, Euchre had to compete with Sheepshead, which isn’t played much outside of that state, from what I understand.

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**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/28 "2012-12-27T05:24:58Z")

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Another vote for Michigan. I had no idea it was an entirely Midwestern game, though I guess I should’ve figured as such.

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**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/29 "2012-12-27T05:25:34Z")

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WI

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**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/30 "2012-12-27T18:00:49Z")

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While I’m from Ohio, I didn’t play Euchre until my first college girlfriend taught me. She was from Racine, so Euchre is a Wisconsonian game in my book.

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**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/31 "2012-12-27T18:09:45Z")

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How can a card game be associated with a state? I’ve never heard of such a thing.

But since every hand of Euchre I’ve ever played has been in New York, I’ll go with that.

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**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/32 "2012-12-27T18:12:32Z")

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I learned it from someone from Wisconsin, but I think he learned it from people he worked with here in Minnesota (or at least that’s what reawakened his interest in the game. Perhaps he knew it before). A lot of people in the Twin Cities are originally from Wisconsin, though.

Another person from Wisconsin once tried to teach me Sheepshead. Yeah, that one never caught on with me. That’s a confusing game.

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**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/33 "2012-12-27T18:18:43Z")

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I knew of euchre only from references in novels until I moved to Columbus, Ohio for a year starting in 1980. Everyone I worked with in Ohio knew how to play. I didn’t encounter the game again until I moved backed to Ohio in 2000. So it’s an Ohio game for me.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/34 "2012-12-27T18:30:17Z")

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Indiana- my family taught me how to play when I was in elementary school.

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**Author:** ![Chum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@Chum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chum)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/35 "2012-12-27T18:31:48Z")

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Michigan. A friend who grew up there taught me. I love that game.

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**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/36 "2012-12-27T18:32:42Z")

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Michigan.

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**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/37 "2012-12-27T20:16:06Z")

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Michigan

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/38 "2012-12-27T20:42:19Z")

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No particular state. Just the Midwest. Not so much Illinois, but definitely Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnestoa, and Iowa.

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/39 "2012-12-27T20:53:39Z")

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> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> How can a card game be associated with a state? I’ve never heard of such a thing.

The popularity of card games is definitely regional. Games likes Sheepshead, being an Americanized variant of Schafkopt and related to games like Skat and Doppelkopf, is popular in German-settled areas of the US, like Wisconsin. In fact, I can’t think of a single player I met who played Sheepshead growing up that wasn’t from Wisconsin.

Euchre, for what we know, seems to have been introduced to the US in Michigan via German settlers to Michigan, although I’ve seen it popular generally in the Midwest.

There’s other games like 10-point pitch, that seem to be mostly Midwestern in popularity. And, also, games associated with certain groups of people, like bid whist being a popular trick-taking game associated with African-Americans.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-u-s-state-do-you-associate-with-the-game-euchre/645236/40 "2012-12-27T20:57:42Z")

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Now I want to play Euchre. (And cribbage, which absolutely no one at all plays anywhere, so far as I can tell.)

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