Partnership · Classic tricks

How to play Whist

Whist is the ancestor of Spades and Bridge, and the purest trick-taking game there is. No bidding: a turned-up card sets trump, and your partnership simply tries to win more than six tricks.

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  • 4 players in 2 teams
  • 52-card deck
  • No bidding
  • Short whist to 5

Setup and trump

Deal all 52 cards, 13 each. You and North are partners against East and West. The dealer's last card is turned face up: its suit is trumps for the hand. That card stays in the dealer's hand and is played normally.

Playing a trick

The player on the dealer's left leads the first trick, and play goes clockwise. Follow the suit led if you can; if you can't, play anything. The highest trump wins the trick, or the highest card of the suit led if no trump was played.

Scoring

The first six tricks score nothing. The side taking more than six scores one point for each trick above six (the “odd tricks”).

Winning

The first partnership to the target wins. Short whist is 5; you can change the target in Settings.

Tips to win

  • Lead from your longest suit to set up winners for later.
  • Second hand low, third hand high: a classic rule that still works.
  • Watch the up-card: you know one of the dealer's trumps for certain.

FAQ

Is there bidding in Whist?

No. The turned-up card decides trumps every hand.

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Play Whist nowFree in your browser · no download