WHIST
Whist is mentioned often in 18th century journals and diaries. It is a variation on bridge and similar to Euchre. While it is a simple game to learn, it takes time and concentration to master.
Four players (in
partnerships) use a standard 52 card pack. Cards rank A (high) K Q J 10 9 8 7 6
5 4 3 2 (low). The
suits are all equal in rank -- except the trump suit, which always ranks higher
that any of its non-trump counterparts. The players cut the deck to determine
partners -- the two high cuts play against the two low cuts. The lowest cut
deals a hand of 13 cards to each player. The last card is turned up and its
suit becomes trump. This card belongs to the dealer, but it stays face-up on
the table until the dealer plays the first trick.
The eldest player leads the first
trick with any card he chooses. Each player in turn plays a card, they must follow
the suit lead if they have it, otherwise, they can throw a card from another
suit or a trump card. The highest card of the suit lead wins the trick --
unless a trump card is played, in which case the highest trump card wins. The
winner of the trick sets it aside and leads the next trick (only one partner
keeps the trick pile). The first six tricks (for both partnerships) make a "book" and do not count in the scoring. Each
trick taken after a partnership "makes book," counts one point.
At the end of a hand, the tricks
taken by each team are added up, and the team holding the most tricks is the
winner of the hand. The winners also
have opportunity to add points to their score if they have taken Honors (the
Ace, King, Queen, and Jack of trump). For capturing three of the 4 Honors cards, the
partnership scores an additional two points to their hand; for capturing all
four of the Honors cards, the partnership scores four points. The first partnership to score 10 points
wins the game.
A variation on whist is also known as catch-honours, catch-the-ten, or Scotch
whist. The main objective is to win a
trick with the ten of trump, which counts for ten points. Note: that the trick has to be won with the ten. A trick won with any other card which simply
contains the 10 of trump is scored normally.
At the end of the hand, the number of points from the losing
partnership�s hand (once they have made book) is subtracted from the number of
points from the winning partnership�s hand (once they have made book) and is
the winning team�s score for the hand. Scotch Whist is played to 7 points (not the customary 10).