Bid Whist
Partnership whist with bidding, a kitty, uptown/downtown and no-trump.
How to play
Four players in partnerships, 54 cards with two jokers: 12 each plus a 6-card kitty. Bid 1-7 tricks over six, as Uptown (Ace high), Downtown (Ace high, then 2, 3 ... King lowest) or No Trump.
The high bidder takes the kitty, names the trump suit, discards six cards and leads. Jokers are the highest trumps.
Follow suit if you can. Making the bid scores the tricks over six (double for No Trump); failing loses the bid (double for No Trump).
First side to reach the target (or its negative) decides the game.
About Bid Whist
Bid Whist is a partnership trick-taking game with an auction at its heart. Players bid how many tricks above six their side will win, and whether the cards play Uptown (Ace high), Downtown (Ace high, then 2, 3 and up, King lowest) or at No Trump. The winning bidder takes a six-card kitty, names trump and discards six cards before leading, with the two jokers as the highest trumps.
Bid Whist at a glance
| Players | 4 players |
|---|---|
| Type | Table game: play online with friends, or with bots in any seat |
| Family | Trick-taking |
| Bot levels | Easy, medium and hard |
| Options | Play to: 7 or 5 or 11 |
| Turn timer (online) | 30 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download |
Tips for Bid Whist
- Count high trumps and jokers before bidding: a joker plus a long suit is the backbone of most strong bids.
- Because you get to swap six cards for the kitty, you can bid a little past the raw strength of your hand, especially if you hold a short suit you can void.
- Choose Downtown when your hand is full of low cards and Uptown when it is full of high ones; No Trump pays double but offers no trump safety net.
Questions about Bid Whist
How many people can play Bid Whist?
Bid Whist is played by exactly 4 players. Real players and bots can share a table, so a game can always start even if you do not have enough people.
Can I play Bid Whist against the computer?
Yes. Pick easy, medium or hard bots and start straight away. Bots only use what a player in their seat could see, so they cannot peek at your cards.
Can I play Bid Whist online with friends?
Yes. Create a private room and share its code, or join a quick match. If someone drops out mid-game, a bot takes over their seat.
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