Whist Variants — Every Major Version Explained

Whist has spawned dozens of variants over its 500-year history. From the bidding intensity of Bid Whist to the casual fun of Knock-Out Whist, each variant adapts the core trick-taking mechanics for different player counts, skill levels, and cultural contexts.

Variant Comparison Table

Bid Whist

Bid Whist is the most popular Whist variant today, with deep roots in African American culture. It adds a bidding phase to the classic Whist framework.

Key Differences from Classic Whist

• Players bid for the right to name the trump suit
• Bids can be “uptown” (Ace high), “downtown” (Ace low), or “no-trump”
• The winning bidder picks up a kitty of extra cards and discards
• Partnerships are fixed (2 vs 2)
• Scoring is based on making or failing your bid

Basic Rules

1. Deal 12 cards to each player. The remaining 4 cards form the kitty.
2. Players bid from 3 to 7 (the number of tricks above the book of 6 they commit to winning).
3. The highest bidder names trump (uptown, downtown, or no-trump) and takes the kitty.
4. The bidder discards cards they don’t want to bring their hand back to 12.
5. Play proceeds as in classic Whist.

For the complete rules and strategy, see the Bid Whist Deep Dive.

Knock-Out Whist

Knock-Out Whist (also called Trumps) is a casual, elimination-style game popular in the UK. It’s one of the simplest trick-taking games and excellent for beginners or mixed-age groups.

Key Differences from Classic Whist

• 2–7 players (no fixed partnerships)
• Each round, players receive one fewer card (start with 7, then 6, then 5…)
• Players who win zero tricks in a round are knocked out
• Last player standing wins
• Trump is determined by cutting the deck

How It Works

1. Deal 7 cards to each player in round 1.
2. Cut the deck to determine trump.
3. Play tricks — highest card in led suit wins, trumps beat all.
4. Any player who wins zero tricks is eliminated.
5. Next round: deal one fewer card to remaining players.
6. Continue until one player remains.

Why It’s Popular

• Simple to learn (5-minute explanation)
• Works with almost any group size
• Games are short (15–20 minutes)
• Natural excitement from elimination format
• Great for families and pubs

Solo Whist

Solo Whist is a more complex variant played extensively in the UK and northern Europe. It introduces individual bidding and variable partnerships.

Key Differences from Classic Whist

• 4 players, but partnerships are not fixed
• Players bid for individual contracts
• Multiple bid types offer different challenges and rewards

Bid Types (Lowest to Highest)

How It Works

1. Deal 13 cards each. Turn up the last card for the proposed trump.
2. Starting left of dealer, players bid or pass.
3. Higher bids beat lower bids.
4. The winning bidder plays their contract.
5. Scoring depends on the bid made and whether it was fulfilled.

Minnesota Whist

Minnesota Whist is a unique variant popular in the upper Midwest of the United States. Its most distinctive feature: there is no trump suit.

Key Differences from Classic Whist

• No trump suit — the highest card of the led suit always wins
• 4 players, no fixed partnerships
• Each player decides independently each hand whether to play “high” (win tricks) or “low” (avoid tricks)
• Players who choose “high” score points for tricks won; players who choose “low” lose points for tricks taken

How It Works

1. Deal 13 cards to each player.
2. Before play, each player secretly decides: high or low.
3. Play 13 tricks (no trump — highest of led suit wins).
4. “High” players: gain 1 point per trick won.
5. “Low” players: lose 1 point per trick won.
6. The constant tension: should you go high or low this hand?

This dual-objective mechanic makes Minnesota Whist strategically fascinating despite its simplicity.

Romanian Whist

Romanian Whist (also called Contract Whist or Oh Hell in some versions) is popular across Eastern Europe and uses a variable hand size that creates dynamic, fast-paced play.

Key Differences from Classic Whist

• 3–6 players (individual, no partnerships)
• Hand size changes each round (1, 2, 3… up to a maximum, then back down)
• Players bid the exact number of tricks they expect to win
• The total of all bids cannot equal the number of tricks available (one player must be wrong)
• Bonus points for exact bid fulfillment

How It Works

1. Round 1: deal 1 card each. Round 2: deal 2 each. And so on.
2. Turn up a card for trump.
3. Each player bids how many tricks they’ll win.
4. The dealer bids last and cannot bid a number that would make the total bids equal the tricks available.
5. Play tricks. Score bonus for making your bid exactly, penalty for over or under.

The variable hand sizes make each round feel different, and the bidding restriction ensures someone always fails.

German Whist

German Whist is the only major Whist variant designed for exactly 2 players. It plays in two distinct phases.

Key Differences from Classic Whist

• 2 players only
• Uses a stock pile (remaining deck after the deal)
• Two phases: stock phase (gaining cards) and trick phase (winning tricks)
• Only tricks in the second phase count

How It Works

Phase 1 — Stock Phase:

1. Deal 13 cards to each player. Place the remaining 26 cards face-down as a stock. Turn the top card face-up.
2. Play a trick. The winner takes the face-up stock card; the loser takes the next (hidden) card.
3. Turn up the new top card. Continue until the stock is exhausted.

Phase 2 — Trick Phase: 4. Both players now hold 13 cards each (original cards plus stock cards gained). 5. Play 13 tricks. Each trick won in this phase scores 1 point. 6. The player who wins more tricks in Phase 2 wins the hand.

The strategy of Phase 1 is fascinating: you can see the face-up card and must decide whether it’s worth winning the trick to get it — balanced against revealing information about your hand.

Which Variant Should You Try?

Play Whist’s Descendants Online

Ready to play? Try these Whist descendants free at Rare Pike:

• Bridge — Whist’s most famous descendant
• Hearts — Trick-avoidance gameplay
• Spades — Partnership trick-taking with bidding
• Euchre — Fast-paced Whist variant