📌 Quick Info
- Name of the Game: Whist
- Number of Players: 4 (in fixed partnerships, 2 vs 2)
- Deck: 1 Standard 52-card deck (no Jokers)
🎯 Objective
To win more tricks than the opposing team. The team with the most tricks after each hand scores points, and the first team to reach the agreed total (typically 5, 7, or 9 points) wins the game.
🛠️ What You Need
- 1 deck of 52 cards
- 4 players seated as 2 teams (partners sit opposite)
- Score sheet or chalkboard
🔄 How to Play – Step by Step
▶️ 1. Deal
- Each player receives 13 cards, one at a time, clockwise.
- The final card dealt (to the dealer) is turned face up — its suit becomes the trump for that hand.
- Dealer turns this card face-down before play begins.
▶️ 2. Playing Tricks
- The player to the left of the dealer leads the first card.
- Players must follow suit if possible.
- If a player has no cards in the led suit, they may play any card — including trump.
- Highest card in the led suit wins the trick — unless trump is played; in that case, highest trump wins.
- The winner of each trick leads the next.
📜 Scoring
- Each team counts the number of tricks they won after all 13 tricks are played.
- The first 6 tricks do not count — only additional tricks count for points.
- Each trick above 6 = 1 point for your team.
- Example: Team wins 8 tricks → 8 – 6 = 2 points
🧠 Strategy Tips
- Save your trump cards for critical tricks — don’t waste them early.
- Watch which suits opponents and partners are short in — this helps in deciding when to trump.
- Keep track of high cards (especially Aces and Kings) played from each suit.
- Signal your partner with high or low leads (in some house rules) — e.g., leading a low card = strong suit.
📘 Optional Rules / Variations
- Short Whist: Played to 5 points for faster games.
- Long Whist: Played to 9 points; more traditional version.
- Silent Whist: Played without any table talk or gestures — full reliance on card play.
🧪 Example Play
- Trump suit: Diamonds (determined by last dealt card)
- Your partner leads a ♥K, all follow suit
- You lead the next trick with ♦10 (trump) — opponents can’t beat it
- After 13 tricks, your team won 9 → 9 – 6 = 3 points
📚 History & Origin
- Whist originated in England in the early 1700s as a development from the game “Ruff and Honours.”
- It became the dominant card game in 18th and 19th-century British society.
- Eventually gave rise to games like Bridge and Hearts.
- Still played today, especially in historical and educational settings.