German Whist is a clever two-player trick-taking game with two completely different phases. In the first phase, you play tricks not to score points but to WIN CARDS from a face-up deck \u2014 building the best possible hand for Phase 2. In the second phase, you play 13 tricks with your rebuilt hands, and whoever wins more tricks wins the game. Because you can see what cards are available in Phase 1, the strategic choices about which tricks to win \u2014 and which to deliberately lose \u2014 are fascinating.<\/p>\n\n\n
In Phase 1, the goal is not to win the most tricks \u2014 it is to win the RIGHT tricks. The winner of each trick gets to take the face-up card showing on top of the stock. The loser of each trick draws the next card from the face-down stock (unknown).<\/p>\n\n\n
Before playing each trick, look at the face-up card. Ask yourself: do I want that card? If the face-up card is an Ace of trump, winning this trick is extremely valuable. If it is a low card you don’t need, deliberately losing the trick might be better \u2014 letting your opponent take a useless card while you draw from the unknown face-down stock.<\/p>\n\n\n
Now both players have rebuilt 13-card hands. The same trump suit applies. Play 13 standard tricks \u2014 follow suit if you can, trump if you cannot follow suit, highest card wins. No more drawing. Count your tricks.<\/p>\n\n\n
The player who wins more than 6 tricks in Phase 2 wins the game. Keep a running score across multiple games if desired.<\/p>\n\n\n