Rules for Three-Handed Whist

Three-Handed Whist is a trick-taking game for three players, popular in the state of Illinois in the USA. It combines strategic thinking with a bit of luck. Three-Handed Whist is played with a standard 52-card deck (no jokers) and usually lasts 45–60 minutes.

The goal is to win the correct number of tricks in each phase based on your bid position. The game consists of four rounds with three deals each – twelve deals total. The player with the most points after all rounds wins.

The cards are dealt as follows:

• 13 cards to each of the three players
• 13 cards to a separate pile called the “pickup” pile

Cards are dealt one at a time, with the last card going to the dealer. The order in which cards are dealt to opponents and the pickup pile is flexible but must remain consistent throughout the game.

There are four rounds of play, with three deals per round (twelve deals total). The deal passes to the left after each hand. Each player will play once in each of the three positions per round.

The game consists of four distinct rounds with different rules:

• Round 1: Trump is determined by cutting the deck – the suit of the revealed card becomes trump
• Round 2: Dealer chooses the trump suit after looking at their cards
• Round 3: No trump – highest card in the led suit wins the trick
• Round 4 (Nullo): No trump – players try to avoid taking tricks

In rounds 1–3 the goal is to win tricks; in round 4 the goal is to avoid them.

Each player has a trick bid based on their position:

• Dealer: 6 tricks in rounds 1–3, 3 tricks in round 4
• Left of dealer: 4 tricks in all rounds
• Right of dealer: 3 tricks in rounds 1–3, 6 tricks in round 4

The scoring is based on how well you match your bid:

• Rounds 1–3: +1 point per trick over your bid, -1 point per trick under
• Round 4: -1 point per trick over your bid, +1 point per trick under

After viewing their hands, players may swap cards with the pickup pile:

1. The dealer first decides how many cards (0–13) to take from the pickup pile
2. The dealer discards that number of cards from their hand, and draws the same number from the top of the pickup pile
3. If cards remain in the pickup pile, the player to the dealer’s left may discard and draw likewise
4. If cards still remain, the player to the dealer’s right may also exchange

Discarded cards go face down into a separate discard pile to be reshuffled before the next deal.

Gameplay rules for each round:

• The dealer leads the first trick
• Players must follow suit if able
• A player who cannot follow suit may play any card
• Rounds 1 and 2: Highest card in the led suit or highest trump card wins
• Rounds 3 and 4: Highest card in the led suit wins (no trump)
• The winner of each trick leads the next

Play continues until all tricks have been played.

Scoring depends on the round:

• Rounds 1–3 (maximize tricks):
  • +1 point per trick above your bid
  • -1 point per trick below your bid
• Round 4 (minimize tricks):
  • -1 point per trick above your bid
  • +1 point per trick below your bid

The total score per hand must always sum to zero, as does the total for all twelve deals. The player with the most points at the end of round four wins the game.

Example from round 2:

• Dealer (bid: 6 tricks) takes 8 tricks → +2 points
• Left player (bid: 4 tricks) takes 3 tricks → -1 point
• Right player (bid: 3 tricks) takes 2 tricks → -1 point

Note that the total points add to 0 (+2 + (-1) + (-1) = 0).

For round 4 (nullo):

• Dealer (bid: 3 tricks) takes 4 → -1 point
• Left player (bid: 4) takes 2 → +2 points
• Right player (bid: 6) takes 7 → -1 point

Total is again 0 ((-1) + 2 + (-1) = 0).

Here are some useful tips for success in Three-Handed Whist:

• In early rounds, aim to collect high cards and trump to fulfill your bid
• Pay attention to which cards are no longer in play when exchanging from the pickup pile
• In round 4 (nullo), discard high cards and keep low or mid cards
• Keep track of how many tricks each player has taken and adjust your strategy
• As dealer, take advantage of choosing trump (in round 2) and leading first
• Remember: total score must be zero – if one player overperforms, others must underperform

Three-Handed Whist stands out for several reasons:

• It is a “compendium game” – rules change each round, making it feel like four games in one
• The balance between exchanging and discarding cards is critical
• Gameplay shifts dramatically in the final round where the goal is to avoid tricks
• Player position (dealer, left, right) heavily influences strategy due to differing quotas
• Zero-sum scoring forces you to think about how your performance affects others

These features make Three-Handed Whist a challenging and engaging game that tests both card skills and strategic thinking.