N American card game like ecarte?

There isn't a direct North American equivalent to Écarté, but there are several card games that share similarities in terms of gameplay, strategy, and structure. Here are some possibilities:

Games with similar gameplay:

* Pinochle: While using a different deck, Pinochle also involves melding combinations of cards for points and features a bidding system to determine the trump suit.

* Canasta: Canasta focuses on building melds of cards of the same rank, but it involves a bidding system similar to Écarté.

* Hearts: While less focused on bidding, Hearts involves strategic card play to avoid collecting points and features trick-taking elements similar to Écarté.

Games with similar structure:

* Cribbage: Like Écarté, Cribbage is a two-player game that involves scoring points through various combinations of cards.

* Spades: Spades is a trick-taking game that requires bidding, similar to Écarté, but with a focus on taking tricks.

* Pitch: Another trick-taking game, Pitch involves bidding on the number of tricks you will take, similar to Écarté.

Ultimately, the "best" North American equivalent to Écarté depends on what specific aspects of the game you're looking for. If you're interested in bidding, melding, and strategic card play, games like Pinochle or Canasta might be the best fit. If you're more interested in trick-taking and scoring, games like Hearts, Spades, or Pitch could be good options.

It's worth exploring different card games to find one that best suits your preferences and play style.