Whist is the grandfather of partnership trick games. There is no bidding and no contract: the dealer’s last card decides trumps, and every trick beyond six that your side takes is a point. You sit at the bottom with your partner across the table and two computer opponents on the sides.
How to play
The deal. Four players, 52 cards, 13 each. The dealer’s last card is shown face up in the middle as the trump indicator; it stays in the dealer’s hand and is played like any other card. The deal moves to the right (counterclockwise on screen) every hand.
Play. The player to the dealer’s right leads any card, and turns pass to the right (counterclockwise). The others must follow suit when they can; a player with no card of the suit led may play anything, including a trump. The highest trump wins the trick, or the highest card of the suit led when no trump was played. The trick winner leads next. Aces are high.
Scoring. After 13 tricks, the side with more than six tricks scores one point for each trick above six: seven tricks is 1 point, all thirteen is 7. Choose Play to 5 or 7 points at the top; the first side to reach it wins. Honours are not counted in this version.
On a phone. Tap a highlighted card in your hand when it is your turn. Each trick is shown for a moment before it slides to the winner.
Strategy
Lead your long suit. With four or more cards in a suit, lead it: the ace and king win early tricks and the small cards become winners once the suit is exhausted.
Draw trumps when you have the majority. Five or more trumps with the top honours means leading them to strip the opponents, then cashing your long suit.
Second hand low, third hand high. As the second player, keep your high cards unless the trick is cheap to win; as the third player, play high to win the trick for your partner’s lead.
Count to seven. Your side needs seven tricks before a point appears. Watch the badges by each seat and know when you are playing for the odd trick and when you can afford to concede.
If you enjoy Whist, try Yukon Solitaire or Aces and Eights next.
