Whist is a classic trick-taking card game for four players, where the objective is to win tricks and predict the number of tricks your team will take in each round.
Setup for Whist:
- Use a standard 52-card deck.
- Select four players and divide them into two teams, with partners sitting across from each other.
- Determine the first dealer, either by drawing lots or using any method you prefer.
- Shuffle the deck and have the dealer distribute the entire deck, one card at a time, to each player. Each player should receive 13 cards.
Objective for Whist:
- The goal is to win tricks and earn points for your team. The game is usually played over several rounds.
Round Play for Whist:
- The game is played in a series of rounds, with each round consisting of several steps.
- The player to the dealer's left leads the first trick by playing any card from their hand.
- Players must follow suit, which means they should play a card of the same suit as the lead card if they have one. If a player doesn't have a card of the led suit, they can play any card from their hand.
- The player who played the highest-ranking card of the led suit wins the trick and leads the next one.
- Tricks continue in this manner until all 13 tricks are played.
- After all the tricks have been played, each team counts the number of tricks they've won during the round.
- Teams score 1 point for each trick they predicted to win at the beginning of the round (based on a team's prediction). For example, if a team predicted they would win 7 tricks and they actually won 7, they receive 7 points. If they win more or fewer tricks than predicted, they do not earn any points for that round.
- A new round begins with the player to the left of the previous dealer becoming the new dealer. The game continues for a predetermined number of rounds.
Winning:
- The game is typically played to a set number of points, and the first team to reach or exceed that number wins.
Tips:
- Communication and teamwork with your partner are essential for predicting the number of tricks you can win.
- Pay close attention to the cards played during tricks to keep track of which suits have been played and which cards remain in play.
Whist is a classic card game that combines strategy and teamwork, making it a great choice for social gatherings and card game enthusiasts. It's also the precursor to more complex games like Bridge.