WHIST

TRUMP:
D
PARTNER
D
D
D
TRICKS: YOU/PARTNER: 0 | OPPONENTS: 0
Shuffle & Deal
Score Sheet
Stats

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RULES

GLOSSARY

  1. Trump: A superior suit, of which any card beats all cards of the other suit.
  2. Trick: One card played by all players.
  3. Round: Thirteen tricks.
  4. Game: The first team to reach 5 points or more, wins the game.
  5. Match: The first team that wins 2 games, wins the match.
  6. Lead: Playing the first card of a trick.
  7. Rubber: Best of three games.

PLAY

Introduction
From Victorian England, Whist spread around the western world and at the height of its popularity even the White House had a room reserved to play the game. From Whist, Contract Bridge evolved, which eventually replaced it, and today, unfortunately, Whist is played by a handful of nostalgics like me. Which is a pity, because Whist is a great game. Although the rules are simple, mindful tactics and strategic thinking is required to play it well.

Four players play in partnerships. The dealer changes clockwise after every round. All players receive 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck. The final card, which belongs to the dealer, is turned face up and decides which suit is trump. Whist is a “trick taking” game, which means that all players play one card to the table, and whoever plays the best card, takes the trick.

Partnership
At CardGames.CLUB you form a team with a solid player, simply named “Partner”. She will adapt to your game smoothly and will keep you out of trouble whenever that is required. Your opponents are named “Opponents”, a tricky lot, that will not allow you to lose your concentration for a sec.

Play
The player to the dealer's left leads to the first trick with any card in her hand. Play continues clockwise. Players must follow suit if possible. If a player can’t follow suit, she may play any card, including a trump card. The trick is won by the highest card of the opening suit, unless a trump is played, in which case the highest trump wins. The winner of the trick leads the next one.

Score
Round - The team that took most tricks wins the round, scores 1 point for each trick it took over six.

Game - A game is won when a team reaches 5 points.

Match - A match traditionally is a rubber, or “best of three” games, which means the winner of the match is the team that wins 2 games.

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