German Whist
A two-player trick-taking game where the first half drafts cards for the scoring half.
Setup
Deal 13 cards each. Turn one card to set trump and place the rest as a face-down stock.
How to Play
- Play tricks, following suit if possible.
- Winner of each early trick takes the face-up stock card; loser takes the next hidden card.
- After stock is gone, play the final 13 tricks for score.
How to Win
Most tricks in the second phase wins.
The first phase is about building the hand you want later.
Is German Whist Right for You?
German Whist is an elegant two-player Whist variant that turns the deck into a tug-of-war over a face-up card. Reach for it when two people want a thinking game with hidden information and a satisfying two-phase structure.
Maybe skip it if: Solo-friendly it is not; with more than two players it simply does not work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the game has two phases: the first 13 tricks draw from the stock, only the last 13 are scored.
- Winning early tricks for weak cards and exhausting your high cards before the scoring phase begins.
Strategy Tips
- In the draw phase, only fight for the face-up card when it is genuinely worth more than what you spend to win it.
- Conserve high trumps and aces for the scoring phase, where every trick finally counts.
Popular Variations
No-Trump German Whist
Some play without a trump suit, making suit-following and the face-up card the entire battle.
Scoring the Whole Game
A simpler house rule counts tricks across all 26, removing the distinction between draw and scoring phases.
Our Take
We think German Whist is one of the best two-player card games around, deceptively deep for such a small ruleset. It is our standby when it is just two of us and we want something smarter than War.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does German Whist work?
Each player holds 13 cards; you draw from a stock topped by a face-up card, the trick winner taking the visible card and the loser the next hidden one, until the stock runs out and the final 13 tricks decide the score.
Is German Whist trick-taking?
Yes, you must follow suit and trump as in standard Whist; the twist is that only the second half of the game's tricks actually count toward the score.