Whist Card Game

Whist is the classic card game of tricks and trumps that bridge and spades grew out of. There is no bidding: the last card dealt sets trump, and you and your partner simply try to win more than six of the thirteen tricks.

How to play Whist Card Game

• Four players in two partnerships: you and your partner (sitting opposite) against the players on your left and right. A standard 52-card deck is dealt out, 13 cards each.
• The dealer's last card is turned face up for everyone to see. Its suit is trump for the whole hand. The dealer takes it back into hand when playing to the first trick.
• The player on the dealer's left leads any card. Everyone else must follow suit if they can. If you cannot follow, you may play a trump or throw away any other card.
• The highest trump wins the trick; if no trump was played, the highest card of the suit led wins. Aces are high. The winner leads to the next trick.
• After all 13 tricks, the partnership that won more than six scores one point for each trick above six. These are called odd tricks: winning 9 tricks scores 3 points.
• Honours (short whist only): if one partnership was dealt all four of the ace, king, queen and jack of trump between them, they score 4 points; three of the four score 2. Honours never count for a team that is one point from game, and they cannot score the winning point.
• Short whist is played to 5 points. The long game is played to 7 points with no honours, as in American whist. The deal passes to the left after every hand.

Controls

• Tap or click a card to play it. Cards you are not allowed to play are dimmed.
• Use the arrow keys or Tab to move between cards and Enter or Space to play.
• Last trick shows the previous trick, Scores opens the score sheet and Speed sets how fast the computer players move.

Tips

• Lead from your longest plain suit: once the trumps are gone, the low cards in a long suit become winners.
• Second hand plays low and third hand plays high: if your partner led, try to win the trick or force out a high card.
• With five or more trumps, lead trump early to draw the opponents' trumps so they cannot ruff your winners.
• Remember the cards played. Knowing which aces and kings are gone tells you when your queen has become the top card.

FAQ

How do you play the card game of whist?

Deal 13 cards to each of four players, turn up the dealer's last card to set trump, then play 13 tricks. You must follow suit if you can, the highest trump or highest card of the led suit wins, and partners pool their tricks.

How is whist scored?

Only tricks above six count. A partnership that wins 8 of the 13 tricks scores 2 points. In short whist, honours (A K Q J of trump) add 4 points for all four or 2 points for three, but cannot win the game.

What is the difference between whist and bridge?

Whist has no bidding and no dummy hand: trump is decided by the turned-up card and every player plays their own cards. Bridge added an auction and a contract on top of the same trick-taking play.

How many points do you need to win at whist?

Short whist is played to 5 points. Choose the long game to play to 7, the target used in American whist.

Is my game saved?

Yes. The current hand, the trump card and the score are kept in your browser so a reload picks up exactly where you left off.