German Whist
is a two-player version of Whist. Despite its name, it was
originally devised in England, not Germany.
Thirteen cards are dealt to you and thirteen to your opponent.
The remaining cards form the stock and are placed face down by
the table. The top stock card is turned face up. This card
defines the trump suit.
The game starts with the non-dealer leading to the first
trick; the other player then follows. If possible, players
must follow the suit of the led card, otherwise they may
discard or trump. The winner of the trick takes the top card
from the stock, and the loser takes the next (unseen) card.
This process continues until the stock has been depleted,
whereupon "phase two" of the round is started.
During phase two, the remaining cards are played out as
tricks, with one point being awarded for each trick won. There
are therefore a total of thirteen points to be won for each
round. Successive rounds are played until a player reaches 50
points at the end of a round. If the other player has not
reached 50 points the game is won by the former. If both
players have reached 50 points at the end of a round, the goal
is extended by ten points. This may happen repeatedly until
one player reaches the goal when the other has not.
Although the rules are simple and German Whist is easy to
learn, to play the game well requires a good memory of cards
seen and played, and skill in assessing whether the visible
stock card will be more beneficial than the one that is under
it. Whether one strives to win or lose a trick in the first
phase of a round will depend on this assessment. The objective
is to have as strong a hand as possible for winning the points
in phase two. |
 |
