Classic partnership trick-taking with a turned trump card.
Sit South, partner with North, and play a full Whist hand against West and East. Follow suit when you can, choose when to spend trump, and score by taking tricks over six.
Whist is the clean ancestor of many modern trick-taking games. There is no bidding phase, no bonus contract, and no complicated card exchange. Four players split into two partnerships, one suit becomes trump, and each trick asks the same sharp question: can you follow suit, can you beat the current winner, and should you spend strength now or save it for later?
This free online Whist game focuses on that classic rhythm. You play South with North as your AI partner. West and East play against you. The dealer's last card sets trump, the leader chooses the suit for the trick, and every player must follow that suit when possible. If anyone cannot follow suit, a trump card can take the trick. If no trump is played, the highest card in the led suit wins.
People searching for whist, whist card game, whist online, play whist, or whist rules usually need two things at once: a playable table and a rules reference that explains why each trick matters. This page puts the game first, then backs it with scoring notes, examples, partnership strategy, FAQ answers, and a long-form rules guide that goes deeper than a short glossary entry.
Players
4
You play South with North as your partner against West and East.
Deck
52 cards
All cards are dealt. The dealer turn-up card sets the trump suit for the hand.
Score
Over six
A side scores one point for each trick it wins beyond the first six tricks.
Unlike Spades, Bridge, or Pinochle, classic Whist has no bidding round. That makes the first hand easy to start while still preserving the core skill of trick-taking card play.
Your partner sits across from you. If North is already winning a trick, you often throw a low card instead of wasting an honor. If West or East is winning, you decide whether to beat the trick now or save control for a later lead.
Trump is the only suit that can beat the led suit when you are void. Spending trump too early can win a small trick but leave you defenseless later. Holding too long can let opponents cash high cards.
The rules page covers deal order, turn-up trump, following suit, trick resolution, scoring over six, revoked-suit edge cases, blocked memory situations, and practical examples for new players.
Want a rules-first reference for teaching the table? Read the companion guide at cardgamerules.org/whist-rules, or keep the full Whist guide here open while you play.
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