Whist types

Whist in 3.

There are 3 players, the fourth one is a dummy. The two partners are called besiegers, the third one in front of the dummy is called a defender.

The besiegers have the same game where there are 4 players.

The defender plays his own card and those of the dummy. Such the exposed cards make his game easier. However he has to play for the two, and this means he overcharges his memory.

Whist with a special suit

This variant was invented by the busy players, who didn`t like the long ancient whist.

The name of the variation suggests itself: there is a special suit in this game. It is exposed at the beginning of each round. If it coincides with a trump, all the rounds won are paid in double rates.

For instance, three honors that are equal to 2 chips in ordinary game, will be equal to 4 chips.

This rule makes whist shorter. 15 robbers can be played in whist with a special suit. One more advantage is that a special suit balances the players` means. Certainly, it involves a certain risk, but still it lessens the importance of payments.

Suite of chips

Variantof the whist with special suit.

The game with a special suit starts in 2 rounds, and ends with the same suit in one round.

Chips exceeding the fixed 10 are transferred to the next 10. For instance, if a round of 8 chips transfers 4 chips to the next round, the additional 2 chips go to the second game, this is called the suite of chips.

Short whist

The game is more animated, thus, adapted to the modern hectic life. This contributed to its popularity in "European clubs" in the end of dynamic XIX century.

In this variation there are no calls. This means, that if a player have taken 8 chips, and one of the partners has two honors, he may make a declare and ask a winner to follow his example.

There are six fixed tricks in this game. Six tricks constitute a small slam, seven tricks - a big slam.

Prussian whist, or whist in two

This variant resembles canonical game. The rules are the same.

There are no dummies (exposed cards).

Cards are divided into 4 shares of 13 cards.

The players are sitting vis-a vis.

Having looked through the cards the players decide whether they play their cards or slough them and take other cards.

In the latter case he takes the cards to his right. After this he can not use his sloughed cards or take them back. He also can not look through the old cards.

The dealer plays the trump card, but if he changes cards, he loses the trump.

The player can not look through the cards to his right or the sloughed cards, if he didn`t change the cards

Scores are calculated as in ordinary whist.

5 chips for 5 honors, 4 for 4, 3 for 3, 2 for 2. But the last honors are scored when a player has 2 of them and the other has one honor or doesn`t have them at all.

Humbug is played without trumps. Aces are honors.

This variation of whist is of greater interest than whist with two dummies.

Ace, king and queen are calculated as in ordinary game.

There is a small slam as well as a big slam.

By the player`s choice deliberate renounce is punished by the penalty of 5 scores or 3 tricks are deducted.

The dealer`s partner leads first.

The players deal by turn.

There are two packs in the game.

Scottish whist or catch "ten"

The pack of 36 cards is used. All six are taken away if there are 8 players, six of spades is taken away, if there are 5 or 7 players in the game.

Players may form partnerships or play single. Six players form 2 partnerships of 3 players. 3 partnerships of 2 players are possible.

8 players form two partnerships of 4 players, or 4 parties of two players.

Dealing.

If there are 2 players, each of them gets 18 cards - 3 separate shares of 6 cards to each. The player can not look into the second or third share till he plays the first.

Three players in the game have two shares. If there are many players they get 1 share of 9, 7, 6, 5, 14 cards according to the number of players.

The last card exposed becomes a trump. Ace is the highest card, except the trump suit, when the jack becomes the highest card.

The task is to take as many tricks as possible, first the picture cards of a trump suit.

Scoring

Trump jack gets 11 scores, trump ten gets 10 scores. Jack, ace, king and queen may take ten. Ace, king, queen are equal to 4, 3 and 2 scores correspondingly.

30 scores are given to the above -mentioned 5 cards. The scoring is effected at the end of the round. For every additional card a player or a partnership get one score.

Peculiarities

It is very absorbing to play trumps and hunt for ten. When all cards are gone and the tricks are taken, players are welcomed to show their skill. It goes without saying, they should follow the suit.

The scoring is effected after each round. All pluses and minuses are scored.