Introduction

German Whist is an excellent whist variant of the classic whist but for 2 players. This game tests memory and skill, as in the second half both players can calculate what 13 cards their opponent have, and plan their move carefully. 

The Play 

Start by deciding the dealer for the first round, each player should recieve 13 cards on hand. Lay the rest of the cards in the middle faced down, flip the top card so that it is visible to both players, this will be the trump suit for the entire hand. 

In the game, the non-dealer starts by playing any card for the first trick. The other player must play a card of the same suit if they can. If both cards are the same suit, the higher card wins. If the cards are different suits, the first player wins, unless the second player plays a trump card, which then wins.

In the first stage, the winner of each trick takes the face-up card and adds it to their hand. The loser picks a face-down card from below it without showing it to the winner. Then, the next card in the deck is turned over, and the winner plays first in the next trick. This means the winner always gets a card that the loser knows about, while the loser receives a card that the winner doesn’t see. The face-up card on the table doesn’t affect the tricks. Each player keeps 13 cards in hand until the deck is empty.

The second stage starts after all tricks are played without adding new cards. The 13 tricks left are played, and the winning tricks are kept in front of the player.

The player who wins the most tricks in this second stage wins the game.

Typically, the game is played for points, with the player who wins the majority of tricks receiving the point difference. Every hand is a seperate game with new trump. 

Strategy 

Playing a card with the same value as the card being played can be a smart move, especially for middle-value cards like 7 to 10. However, choosing the right suit is even more important. Remember that when the ace is played, the king becomes the highest card. If the top three cards in a suit are gone, the jack is the highest remaining card, and so on. It’s also important to pay attention to the lowest cards, especially when the play is low.

The key is to know which suit to play to win lower-value cards without using your best cards too early. Don’t get too fixated on a low card at the top of the deck; instead, focus on the suit you want to play. If the card you want to win is important to you, play a safe card. If it’s a middle-value card, play a slightly higher card—just enough to make it hard for your opponent to win.