Whist Variations

There are many variations of Whist that are based on the classic form of the game. Even though most players learn the game by first playing classic Whist, there are many variations that have been created as well. Obviously, before you play a game of Whist it is important to consider what variation you are playing. Even though most of them are similar, there are some rule changes that make them unique when compared to the others.

Here are several Whist variations that you may have played in the past, or may come across sometime in the future.

1. Bid Whist is a game that is played with partners, and is most common in the United States. This game was made popular by members of the United States Military.

2. Call ace Whist is the national game of Denmark, and this variation is also played in other parts of the world as well. The bidder chooses his or her partner in this game by calling an ace.

3. German Whist is popular because it is a two player game as opposed to the common four players that are needed. Additionally, in the German Whist variation there is no bidding which makes it more like the classic version of the game.

4. Minnesota Whist is a game of no trumps. Additionally, hands can be played to either win or lose tricks. This is similar to Norwegian Whist, and the two are often times confused with one another.

5. Hokm is a game that is similar to Whist, and is played primarily in Iran. The game is also played with four players who make up two partnerships. The word Hokm means “to rule.”

As you can see, there are many variations of Whist; and the five above are only the tip of the iceberg. As a player, you always need to know what variation the others at the table are interested in. You cannot have one player thinking that they are playing classic Whist while another is playing bid Whist. Once you learn to play classic Whist, the other variations will be much easier for you to understand.