How many players do you need for Whist?

Whist is played by exactly 4 players in 2 fixed partnerships of 2. Partners sit directly across the table from each other and stay paired for the whole rubber. North-South typically form one partnership and East-West the other. Whist is fundamentally a partnership game; if you have 4 but want each person playing for themselves, look at Solo Whist instead, or try the casual Knock-Out Whist variant which works for 2 to 7.

How is the trump suit decided in Whist?

The trump suit is decided by the deal itself, not by a bid. After dealing 13 cards to each player one at a time, the dealer places their final (52nd) card face up on the table. The suit of that card is the trump suit for the entire hand. The card remains face up so every player can see it while they plan their first trick; the dealer only takes it into their hand when it is their turn to play to the first trick. No bidding, no negotiation — the deck decides.

What is an 'odd trick' and how is it scored?

An odd trick is any trick a partnership wins beyond the first six. The first six tricks a side takes are called the 'book' and score nothing. Every trick after that scores 1 point . So if your side wins 8 tricks and the opponents win 5, you score 8 − 6 = 2 points (your two odd tricks). The first partnership to reach the target game score — traditionally 5 points in British Short Whist, or 7 in American Whist — wins the game.

What are honours in Whist?

The honours are the four top cards of the trump suit — the A, K, Q, and J of trumps. If a single partnership is dealt all four between them, they score 4 bonus points ; any three of the four scores 2 bonus points . Honours are claimed and announced before the next deal, . A side that already has 4 points at the start of the deal cannot score honours and must win the game with an odd trick; if one side scores tricks and the other honours on the same deal, tricks are scored first. Many modern players skip honours scoring entirely for a simpler game.

What is a rubber in Whist?

A rubber is a best-of-three contest. The first partnership to win two games wins the rubber and gets a 2-point rubber bonus . If one side wins the first two games in a row, there is no third game — they have already won the rubber. The rubber is won by the first partnership to win two games .

Free Printable Whist Rules — How to Play

About Free Printable Whist Rules

There is no bidding. The dealer's final card, the 52nd, is turned face up, and its suit is trump for the whole hand. The dealer picks it up when it is their turn to play to the first trick.

By the ToolFluency team · Updated October 2026

Whist is a classic partnership trick-taking card game for exactly 4 players in 2 teams, played with a standard 52-card deck and no bidding: the dealer's last card sets the trump suit. Your team scores 1 point for every trick it takes beyond six, and the first team to win two games wins the rubber. A rubber usually takes 30 to 90 minutes. The full printable rules sheet with seating, deal and trick diagrams is on this page.

How to play Whist

Seat partners directly across from each other. Each player draws a card and the lowest deals (Aces count low for this draw only). The player on the dealer's right cuts.
The dealer deals all 52 cards one at a time, face down and clockwise, so everyone has 13 cards. The dealer turns the last card face up: its suit is trump for the hand. It stays on the table until the dealer plays to the first trick.
Cards rank A high down to 2 in every suit. The player on the dealer's left leads any card to the first trick.
Going clockwise, each player must follow suit if they can. If you have none of the suit led, you may play any card, including a trump.
The highest trump played wins the trick; if no trump was played, the highest card of the suit led wins. The winner leads to the next trick.
After all 13 tricks, the first six tricks a team takes (the book) score nothing. Each trick beyond six is an odd trick worth 1 point. Optional honours add 4 points for holding all of the A, K, Q and J of trumps between partners, or 2 points for any three of them.
The deal passes clockwise. The first team to 5 points wins the game (7 in American Whist), and the first team to win two games wins the rubber and a 2-point rubber bonus.

Whist scoring

Item	Points	Notes
Book (first 6 tricks)	0	Only tricks beyond six score
Odd trick	1 point each	8 tricks taken = 8 - 6 = 2 points
Four honours (A, K, Q, J of trumps in one team)	4 points	Optional; not allowed for a team already on 4 points
Three honours (any 3 of the 4)	2 points	Optional; not allowed for a team already on 4 points
Game	5 points	British Short Whist; 7 in American Whist, 10 (sometimes 9) in Long Whist
Rubber	2-point bonus	To the first team to win two games
Game points when playing for stakes	1, 2 or 3	1 per game won; 2 if losers scored only 1 or 2 points; 3 if they scored nothing

Examples

Strategy tips

Lead from your longest suit early; once the high cards in it are gone, your remaining low cards in that suit can win tricks.
When the trump card is turned, note who holds it: the dealer is guaranteed at least that trump.
Do not trump a trick your partner is already winning; save the trump for a trick you would otherwise lose.
Count trumps as they fall. Once all 13 are accounted for, your top cards in side suits are safe to cash.
Play second hand low and third hand high: after the lead, the second player usually holds back, while the third player tries to win for the team.

Example: a scoring hand

Hearts are trump. North-South take 8 tricks and East-West take 5, so North-South score 8 - 6 = 2 points for odd tricks. Between them North and South also held the Ace, King and Jack of hearts, three honours, for 2 more points. If they started the hand on 1 point, they now have 5 and win the game.

Frequently asked questions

How is the trump suit chosen in Whist?

There is no bidding. The dealer's final card, the 52nd, is turned face up, and its suit is trump for the whole hand. The dealer picks it up when it is their turn to play to the first trick.

What is an odd trick in Whist?

Any trick a team wins beyond its first six. The first six are called the book and score nothing, so a team that takes 9 tricks scores 3 points.

Can honours win you the game?

Honours add 4 points for all four top trumps or 2 for any three, but a team that already has 4 points cannot score honours on that deal. It has to win the last point with odd tricks.

What is the penalty for not following suit in Whist?

Failing to follow suit when you could is a revoke. Traditional penalties vary, but commonly the other team takes 3 tricks from the offenders or scores 3 penalty points; agree on it before play.

Are you allowed to talk to your partner during Whist?

No. Whist is traditionally played in silence, and the name comes from an old word meaning hush. Partners may not signal, discuss the play, or comment on their cards.

Is a game of Whist played to 5 or 7 points?

Both are used. British Short Whist plays to 5, American Whist to 7, and Long Whist to 10 (sometimes 9). Play stops as soon as a team reaches the target.

Can Whist be played with 2 or 3 players?

Standard Whist needs exactly 4 players in two partnerships. For 2 to 7 players, Knock-Out Whist is a popular variant where hand sizes shrink each round and anyone who takes no tricks is knocked out.

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You might also need

♠Bridge Rules ♠Spades Rules ♠Hearts Rules ♠Euchre Rules ♠Five Hundred Rules

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