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.
  1. 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.
  2. 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.

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