As with the other players, the dealer must follow suit if possible. On the first turn, when the play reaches the dealer, he or she may pick up the trump card and lay down a different card, or leave the card, using it as his or her play for that turn.

Going clockwise, the other players must lie down cards that match the suit of the first card if possible (these cards “follow suit”) otherwise, they may choose a card of another suit. The player to the dealer’s left lays down any card he or she chooses face up in the center of the table. This card is the trump card, and its suit is the trump suit. The final card which goes to the dealer is placed face up in the middle of the table. Starting with the player on the dealer’s left and going clockwise, the dealer hands out cards face down.Īt the end, each player has 13 cards. The player to the dealer’s left shuffles the deck, and the player to the dealer’s right cuts it. (Ace is the lowest card for determining partnerships and dealer.) The player with the lowest card is the dealer. The players with the two highest cards play together. To determine teams, each player draws a card from the deck. With the exception noted below, cards rank from ace high to two low. It uses a standard 52-card deck, although it is traditional to play with an extra deck so that the dealer’s partner can shuffle as the dealer hands out cards from the live deck, making the game proceed more quickly. The whist card game is played by four people. It’s still considered the national card game of England, where whist drives are popular fundraising and social events. Over the centuries, the game has evolved, and it has inspired other trick-taking games such as contract bridge. In the 1700s, formal rules were codified a century later, they were revised.

Don’t worry: If you’re not familiar with the term, it will become clear.) The whist card game evolved from card games popular in England in the 1500s like Ruff and Honors. (Tricks are sets of cards counted as a unit. And while a game of classic whist passes quickly, variants of the game are easy to master and can extend play as long as everyone’s up for it. Its basic rules are easy to learn, making it a perfect game for beginners, but the game is deceptively simple, and strategy is important. The whist card game is played by two teams of two players each with the goal of winning hands based on the value of the cards you’re dealt. They’re even better when you get to team up. Card games are a great way to spend time with family and friends.

How to play knockout whist card games