German Whist (1894)

About this game

A two-player derivative of Whist where players spend the first half of the game playing tricks to improve their hand, then the second half playing out that hand. Only half the deck is dealt, and the game begins with additional series of 13 non-scoring tricks in which each trick determines how the top two cards of the draw deck are dealt to the players, the winner of each trick getting the top card (which is always revealed before the trick is played) and the losing player getting the second (hidden) card. The game is a quick to learn, easy to arrange, and fast-playing introduction to trick-taking games and serves as a good first step to learning to play Whist or Bridge for players unfamiliar with trick-taking.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 1.9/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 8 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.