Play Whist Online Free
Play classic Whist online with a computer partner against two computer opponents. Follow suit, use trump to win tricks, and be the first partnership to reach five points.
How to Play Whist
- Receive 13 cards. One standard 52-card deck is dealt to four players. You and the player opposite form a partnership.
- Check trump. The suit of the last card dealt becomes trump. Classic Whist at this table has no bidding auction.
- Play one card on your turn. A trick is one card from each player. You must follow the first card's suit if you can. If you cannot, play any card, including a trump.
- Find the winner. The highest trump wins the trick. With no trump, the highest card of the led suit wins. Aces are high, followed by K, Q, J, 10 down to 2.
- Lead the next trick. The winner leads. Play all 13 tricks, then count the tricks won by each partnership.
- Score and deal again. Each trick above six earns your team one point. The first partnership to five points wins the match.
Whist Scoring
Your tricks and your partner's tricks count together. The first six are the book and score nothing; only extra tricks earn points.
| 0 to 6 tricks | 0 points |
|---|---|
| 7 tricks | 1 point |
| 8 tricks | 2 points |
| 9 tricks | 3 points |
| 10 tricks | 4 points |
| 11 tricks | 5 points |
| 12 tricks | 6 points |
| 13 tricks | 7 points |
A Whist Trick and Scoring Example
Suppose hearts are trump and the lead is the king of clubs. The next player follows with the ace of clubs. A player with no clubs plays the two of hearts, and the last player follows with the three of clubs. The two of hearts wins because even a low trump beats the ace of the led suit.
If you win five tricks and your partner wins three, your partnership has eight tricks and scores two points. The opponents' five tricks score nothing.
Whist Strategy for Beginners
- Watch which suits players cannot follow. That helps you judge whether a later lead might be trumped.
- When your partner is already winning, avoid spending a higher card without a reason.
- Keep track of high trumps. A low trump becomes more useful once the higher ones have been played.
- Think in team tricks. You need seven together to score, not seven in your own hand.
Whist Questions
Can I play Whist against the computer?
Yes. The computer controls your partner and both opponents. You choose your own cards, and the game handles the deal, legal moves and scoring.
Must I play trump if I cannot follow suit?
No. At this table you may play any card when you have none of the led suit. If you still have that suit, you must follow it.
Is Whist the same as Bid Whist?
No. This is classic partnership Whist with trump determined by the deal and points for tricks above six. Bid Whist is a separate variant.
More Games in the Whist Family
Try German Whist for a two-player game or Knockout Whist for an elimination variant. For partnerships with meld scoring, try Double Deck Pinochle.