Right bower. Left bower. Trumps, tricks, and skunks — who wants to learn a new language just to play cards? UW-Madison may be smack in the middle of America's "euchre belt,"but that doesn't mean the game is for everyone. So if you're one of those On Wisconsin readers who can't tell a euchreist from the Eucharist, here's a simpler game you may enjoy:

Woolly Badger
All you need is 1) a standard deck of fifty-two cards, plus one joker, and 2) friends.

First, you and your friends ante up (a poker chip, a penny, a puppy, or whatever commodity you happen to be playing for).

Next, deal one card to every player. Betting ensues, starting on the dealer's left and working clockwise around the circle. Players must call, raise, or drop out, as in poker.

When the betting is complete, each player who's still in shows his or her card — the highest card wins the pot. Aces are high, twos are low, and the joker is the highest card of all — except ...

If two or more players tie with the highest card, the pot is held over for the next hand.
A 7 of any suit beats the joker — 7s thus become the highest card, but only if a joker is played in that hand.
If a player wins the hand with a 2 (it's possible, but only if, through successful bluffing, that player forces all the others to drop out), then every other player must pay the winner the value of the entire pot. That could be a lot of puppies!
That's it. So go play and enjoy. But remember: On Wisconsin does not endorse gambling. Unless we can get in on the action.