Classic Whist
About Classic Whist
Whist is a simple partnership card game, and a great place to start if you are new to trick-taking games! Develop your strategic thinking and teamwork while you unwind with this fun and fast-paced game.
Classic Whist is the ideal game for learning trick-taking and Whist games of all types. Choose between easy mode while you grow your skills, and hard mode when you want to be challenged!
To win, you must work with your AI partner to outwit your opponents and be the first partnership to reach the win target, either five, seven or nine points.
Customise the game you want, setting your preferred win target, setting the AI to easy or hard and choose to play with or without ‘Honours’. As in all our games, you can customise your colour themes and decks too, keeping the playing landscape interesting and exciting.
Quickfire Rules
The aim of the game is to be the first partnership to reach the win target. As with all Whist games, it follows standard trick-taking rules. A card is beaten either by a higher card of the same suit, or any Trump card. Once a card is played, other players must play a card from the same suit. If they do not hold any cards from this suit, they may choose to Trump, or Throw Away by playing any non-trump card.
One point is awarded for every trick a partnership takes above six tricks.
Classic Whist Terms
Trick: Each player plays a card in turn, and the best card wins that trick.
Trump: Cards in the trump suit are elevated higher than all other cards. Trump cards can only be played when a player cannot follow suit or a Trump card is led.
Honours: If a team is dealt either three or four Honour cards in the same suit they are awarded bonus points. Honour cards are Ace, King, Queen and Jack.
How Your Partner Plays
Playing with a partner you can't communicate with can be frustrating, but here are some tips on how you can get along:
- With the opening lead, your partner will play a singleton or low in their strongest suit to tell you which suit they want you to bring back
- They will watch your opening lead and try to bring that suit back for you if they can
- If they spot that you are void in a suit they will run that suit to give you the opportunity to trump