trick-taking · UK / Worldwide
Whist
Also known as Classic Whist · English Whist
Whist is the timeless English 4-player partnership trick-taking game — the ancestor of Bridge and Spades. No bidding: a card is turned up for trump and you simply win tricks. Play free in your browser vs bots or friends, no signup.
4–4 players · free · no download · no signup
How to play Whist
- Note the turned-up trump suit.
- Follow suit; trump beats the led suit.
- Win tricks above six to score.
- First team to 5 points wins.
Whist rules
Teams & deal
4 players in two partnerships, 52-card deck, 13 cards each.
Trump
The dealer's last card is turned face up to set the trump suit, then taken into hand. There is no bidding.
Play
Follow the led suit if you can; the highest trump, else the highest card of the led suit, wins the trick.
Scoring
After 13 tricks, a team scores 1 point for each trick it won above six. First team to 5 points wins.
Strategy tips
- Lead your long suit to set up late tricks.
- Count trumps as they fall.
- Signal your partner with your discards.
Variants
Bid Whist · Knockout Whist · German Whist
Whist — frequently asked questions
Is Whist the same as Bridge?
Whist is the simpler ancestor of Bridge — same trick-taking core, but no bidding or dummy hand.
How do you score Whist?
Each team scores 1 point per trick taken above six; first to 5 points wins.