Israeli Whist

🎯 Game Overview

Israeli Whist is a trick-taking card game for 4 players. The goal is to win exactly the number of tricks you bid for.

🃏 Phase 1: Trump Bidding

• Players bid on trump suit and minimum number of tricks (5-13)
• Each bid must be higher than the previous (more tricks OR same tricks with higher trump)
• Trump ranking: Clubs (♣) < Diamonds (♦) < Hearts (♥) < Spades (♠) < No Trump
• Trump winner leads the first trick

🎲 Phase 2: Takes Bidding

• All players bid on how many tricks they will take
• Trump winner must bid at least their Phase 1 minimum
• Total bids cannot equal exactly 13
• Bidding order: Trump winner, then clockwise

🃏 Phase 3: Playing

• Trump winner leads first trick, then clockwise
• Must follow suit if possible
• Trump can be played anytime
• Highest card of led suit wins, unless trumped
• Winner of each trick leads the next

🏆 Scoring

• Meet your bid exactly: score (bid × bid) + 10 points
• Miss your bid: lose 10 points for each trick over or under
• Bid 0 in an Under hand (total bids < 13): +50 if you take 0 tricks, −50 if you take any
• Bid 0 in an Over hand (total bids > 13): +25 if you take 0 tricks, −25 if you take any

💡 Strategy Tips

• Trump bidding: Consider hand strength and distribution
• Takes bidding: Be realistic about your hand's potential
• Playing: Adapt strategy based on whether you need more tricks or have enough
• Sometimes it's better to lose a trick than win an unwanted one