Play classic partnership Whist free online. Follow suit, use the trump suit set by the dealer’s last card, and win tricks beyond the six-trick book to score. First team to 7 points wins. No download or sign-up.
Overview
Whist is a classic four-player partnership trick-taking game and the ancestor of Bridge. You and your partner sit across from each other against the other two, and the first team to reach seven points wins. There is no bidding — it is pure trick-taking skill, where only the tricks you win beyond the first six actually score.
How to play
All 52 cards are dealt out, thirteen to each player, and the dealer’s last card is turned up to set the trump suit for the hand. The player to the dealer’s left leads first. You must follow the led suit if you can; if you cannot, you may play any card, including a trump. The highest trump wins the trick, or the highest card of the led suit if no trump is played.
Scoring and the book
The first six tricks a partnership wins are called the ‘book’ and score nothing. Every trick a partnership takes beyond six earns them one point. If both teams take exactly six tricks, no points are scored that hand. Hands are played until one partnership reaches seven points and wins.
Strategy and tips
Lead your strong off-suit Aces early, while they are safe from being trumped. Hold your trumps for when you cannot follow suit, where they turn losing tricks into winners. Pay attention to which tricks your partner is already winning, and avoid wasting high cards on tricks your side has secured. Counting the trumps that have been played tells you when the suit is exhausted.
Controls
Select a card and tap Play, or double-tap a selected card to play it immediately; the game enforces following suit for you. Use the menu to start a new game.
Frequently asked questions
Is Whist free to play? Yes — free in your browser, no sign-up. How is trump decided? The dealer’s last dealt card is turned up and its suit is trump for the hand. What is the ‘book’? The first six tricks a team wins, which score nothing; only tricks beyond six score. How do you win? Be the first partnership to reach seven points.
