Bid Whist

How to play Bid Whist

Bid Whist is for four players in two partnerships. Here you play with a computer partner, North, against two computer players, West and East. The deck has 54 cards: the usual 52 plus a big joker and a little joker. Each player gets 12 cards, and the last 6 go face down to the kitty.

• Starting on the dealer's left, each player bids once or passes. A bid is a number from 3 to 7: the books (tricks) over six that their side promises to take. It also says how the hand will be played: uptown (high cards win), downtown (low cards win) or no trumps.
• Each bid must be higher than the last. A bigger number beats a smaller one, and at the same number, no trumps beats uptown or downtown. If everyone else passes, the dealer must bid.
• The highest bidder takes the kitty into their hand and puts back any 6 cards. Those 6 count as their side's first book.
• Then they name trumps. For a no trumps bid, they choose uptown or downtown instead. They lead the first trick.
• Uptown, cards rank Ace, King, Queen and on down to 2. Downtown, the Ace is still top, then 2, 3 and on up to the King, which is lowest.
• With trumps, both jokers are trumps above the Ace, the big joker highest. In no trumps the jokers are worth nothing: they can be played to any trick and never win it. If a joker is led, the next card played sets the suit.
• You must follow the suit led if you can. The highest trump wins the trick, or with no trump in it, the highest card of the suit led.
• If the bidding side makes its bid, it scores 1 point for every book over six. If it falls short, it loses the number it bid. No trumps scores double either way.
• The first side to 7 points wins. A side that falls to -7 loses.

Cards you can't play are dimmed. Last trick shows the four cards just played. There's no Undo, because you're playing against the computer.

Keyboard

Tab moves to the bid lists, the buttons and your cards. Enter or Space chooses or plays a card. H shows a hint.