whist

/wist/
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whist

Four friends play a game of whist at a wooden table.

Definition

Noun: 1. A trick-taking card game: Whist is a classic card game for four players, arranged in two partnerships. The standard 52-card deck is used. The primary objective is for a partnership to win more tricks than the opposing partnership. The game involves strategy, memory, and communication through legal plays.

Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • In the 18th and 19th centuries, whist was an extremely popular social game.
    • They spent the evening playing a few quiet rounds of whist.
    • The rules of whist are simpler than its descendant, bridge.
Advanced Usage
  • "To play a hand of whist": To participate in one complete deal of the whist game.
    • Shall we play a final hand of whist before we leave?
  • "Dummy whist" or "Whist for three": A common variation of the standard game that allows for three players, where one hand is placed face-up on the table as the "dummy."
    • Since we only have three people, we can play dummy whist.
Variants and Related Words
  • Bridge (n): A more complex and strategic card game that evolved from whist. Bridge uses a similar partnership structure and trick-taking mechanism but introduces bidding.
  • Trick (n): In card games like whist, a trick is a round of cards where each player plays one card. The highest-ranking card of the suit led (or a trump card) wins the trick.
  • Trump (n/v): In some variations of whist, a suit may be designated as "trump," meaning cards of that suit outrank all cards of other suits for the duration of a hand.
Synonyms
  • Card game: A general term for any game using playing cards as the primary equipment.
  • Trick-taking game: A category of card games where the objective revolves around winning rounds (tricks). Whist is a foundational example.
Related Phrases
  • To follow suit: In whist and similar games, to play a card of the same suit as the first card played in a trick. This is a fundamental rule unless a player has no cards of that suit.
    • You must follow suit if you can.
  • To lead a trick: To play the first card in a trick, thus determining the suit that others must follow if possible.
    • It's your turn to lead the next trick.
whist

Four friends play a game of whist at a wooden table.

Noun
  1. a card game for four players who form two partnerships; a pack of 52 cards is dealt and each side scores one point for each trick it takes in excess of six