Knockout Whist
Seven cards down to one. Take no tricks and you’re out. Last one standing wins. 2–7 players.
Also known as Trumps and Diminishing Whist.
How to play Knockout Whist
- 1Everyone gets 7 cards in the first round, then one card fewer each round after that, down to a single card.
- 2In the first round the next card is turned face up, and its suit is trump. After that, whoever took the most tricks in the last round looks at their new hand and names trump (if several tie, a cut decides).
- 3The player left of the dealer leads the first round; in later rounds the player who named trump leads. Follow suit if you can, otherwise play anything. The highest trump wins the trick, or else the highest card of the suit led. Aces are high, and the winner leads next.
- 4Take no tricks in a round and you're knocked out. The last player still in wins, so the game is over once one player takes every trick of a round, or after the one-card round.
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