Objective of the Game

Whist is a traditional card game where the objective is for a partnership to win as many tricks as possible. It is played in fixed partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other. The aim is to collect more tricks in a round than the opposing partnership.

Equipment

• A standard 52-card deck without jokers
• Four players (two teams)

Setup

1. Determine the dealer and the dealer's position. The dealer distributes cards clockwise, one at a time, until each player has 13 cards.
2. The last card dealt is placed face up in the center of the table and determines the trump suit.

Gameplay

1. First Lead: The player to the left of the dealer leads the first card. This is known as leading the "first card."
2. Follow Suit: Other players must follow the suit of the first card if able.
3. If they cannot, they may play a trump card or discard any other card.
4. Trump Suit: The trump suit overrides all other suits and will win the trick unless a higher trump card is played.
5. Winning a Trick: The player with the highest card of the followed suit or the highest trump card wins the trick and places it face down in front of them.
6. Next Round: The winner of the trick leads the next round.
7. Play continues until all 13 tricks have been played.

Scoring

• A point is awarded to the team for each trick won over 6 tricks.
• The game can be played over several rounds to reach a specific point target, typically 5 points.

Strategic Tips

• Implicit Communication: Since partners cannot speak, pay attention to the signals conveyed by playing certain cards.
• Strong Opening: When leading the first card, start with a high card to control the game.
• Use Trump Cards Wisely: Save trump cards for key moments to secure important tricks and avoid wasting them on unnecessary wins.

Whist is a fantastic game for practicing strategic thinking and teamwork while having fun!