What Is a Farmer’s Hand?

A farmer’s hand in euchre is a dealt hand containing no face cards — no Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces. All five cards are 9s and 10s. Under this house rule, a player can reveal the hand and request a re-deal because the hand is considered unplayable.

The name comes from the euchre term Bauer (German for “farmer”), which is the root of “bower.” A hand with no Bauers — no Jacks at all, and no other face cards — is a “farmer’s hand” in the most literal sense: it has nothing but field cards (low-value number cards).

The Rule

Standard Version

Before the trump calling phase begins (before anyone says “pass” or “order up”), a player reveals their 5-card hand showing only 9s and 10s. The hand is confirmed by other players, and a re-deal is initiated.

What Triggers a Re-Deal

  • All 5 cards must be 9s and 10s (no Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces)
  • The player must declare it before calling begins
  • Once the trump calling phase starts, it is too late to declare

After the Re-Deal

House rules vary on what happens after the farmer’s hand re-deal:

  • Same dealer deals again (most common) — The same player re-deals to give the hand another chance
  • Deal passes — The deal moves to the next player as if the hand had been played
  • Same dealer, fresh shuffle — The same dealer shuffles and deals anew

How Rare Is a Farmer’s Hand?

The euchre deck has 24 cards: 8 are 9s and 10s (two per suit), and 16 are face cards (J, Q, K, A in each suit).

The probability of being dealt 5 cards with all of them being 9s or 10s is:

$$\frac{\binom{8}{5}}{\binom{24}{5}} = \frac{56}{42504} \approx 0.13%$$

That is about 1 in 760 hands per individual player. However, with 4 players each getting 5 cards, the chance that at least one player draws a farmer’s hand in any given deal is higher — roughly 1 in 190 hands, or about once every 3–4 hours of active play.

Some groups use a looser definition (see Variations below), which significantly increases the frequency.

Why the Rule Exists

The Argument For

A true farmer’s hand (five 9s and 10s) is nearly useless:

  • No bowers — Cannot win trump tricks with the highest cards
  • No Aces — Cannot win off-suit leads
  • No Kings or Queens — No mid-range competition
  • Only 9s and 10s — The weakest possible cards in the deck

A player holding this hand cannot meaningfully contribute whether calling trump, defending, or partnering. They will almost certainly lose every trick they play individually. Forcing them to play feels unfair given the extreme bad luck.

The Argument Against

  • Euchre is a short game — One bad hand has limited impact. Just pass and let your partner or the opponents deal with it.
  • Under stick the dealer, re-deals are already eliminated — Adding a farmer’s hand exception creates complexity.
  • It disrupts game flow — Re-deals slow the game. Part of euchre’s appeal is its speed.
  • It rewards showing your hand — Revealing all 5 cards before play gives the opponents information, even if a re-deal occurs . Some players might manipulate the timing.
  • Tournaments do not use it — Competitive play relies on playing the cards you are dealt.

Variations

Strict Definition (Standard)

Only 9s and 10s. All five cards must be number cards. This is the most commonly accepted definition.

No Jacks or Aces

Some groups relax the rule: a farmer’s hand is one with no Jacks and no Aces. A hand of Q♥, K♣, 10♠, 9♦, 10♦ would qualify under this version but not the strict version.

This looser definition is more common in social games where the fun factor matters more than strict rules.

No Trump Cards

Some groups allow a re-deal when a player has zero cards in the called trump suit and no bowers. This is declared after trump is called but before trick play begins. This is technically a different rule but sometimes gets lumped under “farmer’s hand.”

No Face Cards and No Trump

The strictest version: a player must have no face cards and no cards in the trump suit. This is extremely rare and almost never comes up, but some groups include it for completeness.

How to Implement the Rule

If your group wants to add the farmer’s hand rule, agree on these specifics before the game:

  1. Definition — Strict (only 9s and 10s) or loose (no Jacks and Aces)?
  2. Timing — Must be declared before any calling begins?
  3. Re-deal procedure — Same dealer or next dealer?
  4. Interaction with stick the dealer — Is a farmer’s hand re-deal allowed under stick the dealer, or not?
  5. Frequency limit — Can a player declare farmer’s hand twice in a row? (Some groups allow only one re-deal per deal rotation.)

Strategy Implications

If You Get a Farmer’s Hand (No Re-Deal Rule)

If your group does not use the farmer’s hand rule and you get dealt all 9s and 10s:

  • Do not call trump — You have zero chance of making 3 tricks alone. Pass every time.
  • Hope your partner calls — Your 9s and 10s might win a trick or two if your partner’s call draws trump away from the opponents first.
  • Defend passively — If the opponents call, play your highest cards first and hope for the best. You will not euchre anyone with this hand.
  • Do not despair — One bad hand in a 10-point game is survivable. Your partner can carry one round.

If Opponents Declare a Farmer’s Hand

If re-deals are allowed and an opponent shows a farmer’s hand:

  • Remember what you saw — You briefly saw their 5 cards. After the re-deal, those cards are reshuffled, but the memory of card distribution is still information.
  • No strategic advantage — The re-deal is a fresh start. Play normally.

Farmer’s Hand in Pop Culture

The farmer’s hand is one of euchre’s most discussed house rules because it illustrates the tension between fairness and play the cards you’re dealt mentality. In Midwestern euchre culture, opinions on the farmer’s hand are strong:

  • Some players consider it a core rule that should always be included
  • Others view it as unnecessary coddling in a game that already has short hands and fast recovery
  • Tournament directors almost universally reject it to maintain pace and competitive integrity

The debate itself is part of euchre’s charm — a game with 200 years of history accumulates passionate opinions about every edge case.

What to Learn Next

The farmer’s hand rule interacts with other house rules like stick the dealer. Understanding both helps you navigate any euchre group’s rule set. For the standard rules that apply everywhere, see rules for beginners. And if you are curious about the statistics of euchre card distribution, our card rankings guide explains why certain cards appear in certain positions.