Official Contract Whist Rules

Last Updated on October 23, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Contract Whist is a clever twist on the traditional Whist card game that adds prediction, bidding, and scoring strategy to every hand. It challenges players not just to win tricks, but to correctly forecast how many tricks they’ll win. Played over multiple rounds where the number of cards dealt changes each time, Contract Whist combines luck, skill, and psychology in a fast-paced experience ideal for 3–6 players.

Here’s the official in-depth guide on how to play Contract Whist.

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How to Play Contract Whist

Objective

The objective of Contract Whist is to score the most points by accurately predicting how many tricks you will win in each round. Players earn points for correct bids and lose points for incorrect ones.

Contract Whist utilizes many of the same rules from the classic card game Whist. We recommend learning How to Play Whist before moving on the Contract Whist.

What You Need

  • A standard 52-card deck (remove Jokers)
  • 3 to 6 players
  • Pen and paper for keeping score

Setup

  1. Choose a dealer. The deal rotates clockwise after each round.
  2. Shuffle the deck and deal a set number of cards to each player.
    • The first round begins with 1 card each.
    • The next round deals 2 cards to each player, and so on, until the agreed-upon maximum (usually 7 or 8).
    • Then the number of cards per hand decreases again until players are back to 1 card.
  3. After dealing, turn the next card from the deck face up — its suit is the trump suit for that round.
  4. Each player looks at their cards and decides how many tricks they think they can win this round.

Bidding

  • Starting with the player to the dealer’s left, each player announces their bid — the number of tricks they expect to win that round.
  • The dealer bids last, but the total number of bids cannot equal the total number of tricks available. This ensures at least one player will be wrong.

Example:
If 5 players each have 2 cards, there are 10 possible tricks. If the first four bids add up to 7, the dealer cannot bid 3.

Playing the Tricks

  1. The player to the dealer’s left leads the first trick.
  2. Each player must follow suit if possible. If they can’t, they may play any card, including a trump.
  3. The highest card of the suit led wins the trick, unless a trump card is played — in that case, the highest trump wins.
  4. The winner of the trick leads the next one.

Play continues until all tricks in the round are completed.

Scoring

After each round:

  • If a player’s bid was exact, they score 10 points + the number of tricks they won.
  • If the bid was incorrect, they score 0 points (or, in some versions, lose 5 points).

Example:
If you bid 2 and win 2 tricks, you score 12 points (10 + 2).
If you bid 3 but win only 2, you score 0 points.

Keep a running total across all rounds. The player with the highest score after the final round wins.

Winning the Game

  • Point Goal: The game is usually played to a predetermined point total, such as 100 or 150 points, or a set number of rounds. The first team to reach or exceed the target score wins the game.
  • Winning by Contract: If a team consistently wins their contract bids and prevents the opposing team from scoring, they are more likely to win the game.

Strategy Tips

  • Bidding Wisely: Be realistic about your hand when bidding. Don’t overestimate your strength, as failing to meet your bid can result in significant point losses.
  • Trump Management: If a trump suit is in play, manage your trump cards carefully. Use them strategically to win key tricks, especially when you’re short on cards of the lead suit.
  • Teamwork: Work closely with your partner. Understanding each other’s playstyle and strategizing together can give you a significant advantage in winning the bid and meeting the contract.
  • Observe Opponents: Pay attention to how your opponents bid and play. Knowing which suits they’re strong in can help you make decisions on when to play your trump cards or pass.

FAQ – Contract Whist Rules

Can Contract Whist be played with two players?

It’s best with 3–6 players. Two-player games lose much of the bidding tension and trick variety.

What happens if someone forgets their bid?

Players are responsible for remembering their own bids, but some groups write them down.

Can players bid zero?

Yes, players may bid zero — meaning they predict they’ll win no tricks. If correct, they score 10 points.

What if there’s a tie in the final score?

In case of a tie, play one final round with one card each to determine the winner.

Do trumps change every round?

Yes. The trump suit changes each round depending on the face-up card revealed after the deal.

Variants of Whist

There are several variations of Whist, each with slightly different rules:

  • Progressive Whist: This version involves bidding, where players bid on how many tricks they think they can win.
  • Solo Whist: Players change seats after each round, making it a more dynamic version of the game.
  • German Whist: German Whist is a variation of the classic Whist card game where players aim to win tricks by playing higher cards, with the added twist of having a designated trump suit that changes each round.
  • Domino Whist: Played with dominoes instead of cards, where players aim to win tricks by matching and playing higher-value dominoes within a set suit.

Final Thoughts

Contract Whist is a strategic card game where players must carefully plan their bids and manage their hand to win tricks and meet their contracts. The game adds an extra layer of complexity and excitement with bidding and the potential for a trump suit. By mastering bidding strategies, working with your partner, and understanding how to play your hand in each round, you can excel in Contract Whist and enjoy hours of challenging gameplay.

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