Whist is a game that was
widely played in the 18th Century. It is a game that is played by
four players in partnerships. Cards in the 18th century had no
numbers printed on them.
Equipment:
Two 52 card decks - kept separate
Pencil and Paper for scoring
Play:
Four players play in two fixed partnerships.
The partners sit facing each other and the game is played clockwise. Two
standard 52 card decks are used.
THE DEAL
The player to the dealer’s left shuffles one
deck of cards. The player on the dealer’s right cuts the cards. The dealer deals
the cards one to each player in turn to a total of 13 cards each player. The
final card – which is to the dealer – is dealt face up. This indicates which
suit is TRUMPS. This card remains face up on the table until it is the dealer’s
turn to play the first TRICK. The second deck of cards is shuffled by the
dealer’s partner whenever the first deck is dealt. This second deck is then
placed to the right. On the next hand the dealer picks up the cards from the
left and passes them to the right to be cut. The second deck of cards is always
to the left of the next dealer.
THE PLAY
The player to the dealer's left leads to the
first trick. The player may lead with any card. The players each play a card to
the TRICK in clockwise order. Players must play a card of the same suit as the
care that was led – a player with no card of the same suit may play any card.
The TRICK is won by the highest trump in the TRICK. If the TRICK contains no
trump then the highest card of the suit led wins. The winner leads the next
TRICK.
Thirteen TRICKS are played. The team that
the most TRICKS scores one point for each TRICK won in excess of six. The first
team to win five points wins the game. Several deals may be necessary to reach
this score.
The four top trumps are called HONOURS.
These are A K Q J. A team that holds all four HONOURS in their hands between
them scores 4 extra points which are claimed at the end of play. A team that
holds three of the four HONOURS can claim 2 extra points. If a team has four of
the five points needed to win at the start of the deal, the team may not claim
HONOURS on that deal. If on the same deal one team scores on TRICKS and the
other TEAM scores on HONOURS, the TRICKS are counted first and supercede the
HONOURS. HONOURS is part of the traditional game.