A subgroup of
plain trick games. These
games often are a good
introduction to
trick-taking games in general
because the rules are very
straightforward. The essence of the
game is just deal out the cards and play the tricks. The cards have
their familiar rank from ane to two. Despite the simplicity, these
are not the oldest trick taking games.
- In the earliest games, King was the highest and the ace was in
its logical position next to the two. The promotion above the king
came later.
- Whist has trumps, an idea originally in tarot or
karnoffel - the earliest trick taking games would almost certainly
have been without trumps.
Classic Whist and its close relatives are for four players in
fixed partnerships, partners sitting opposite.
There is also a group of Whist games for three players, in which
each player has a
quota of tricks to fulfill.
Whist like games also exist for other numbers of players.
One of the developments of Whist over the last two hundred years has been
incorporating a bidding process.