Trump Whist

Whist for four with a trump suit — everyone plays for themselves, no teams. The whole 52-card deck is dealt out, 13 cards each. Spades are trump for the whole game.

The same player always leads the first trick; after that, each trick's winner leads the next. Play one card to the trick. If the trick is empty, you're leading: play any card. Otherwise follow the suit that was led. Only if you have none of that suit may you play anything — including a spade.

Four cards complete a trick. Once it's full, it is resolved: if anyone played a spade, the highest spade takes the trick, whatever was led. Otherwise the highest card of the suit led takes it — ace high. So a spade only wins when you were allowed to play it: you must still follow the led suit while you hold one. The four cards go to the trick's winner, who leads the next one.

After 13 tricks the piles are counted: whoever took the most tricks wins. An even split is a draw. Only tricks count. Holding the top spades scores you nothing by itself — you have to win tricks with them.