Whist Strategy: 6 Tips

Whist strategy was written down in the 1740s and much of it still holds. New here? Read the rules first.

1. Lead from length

Open with the fourth-highest card of your longest plain suit. Long suits set up winners later, and the lead tells your partner where your strength is.

2. Draw trumps when you have them

With five or more trumps between the known hands, lead trumps to strip the opponents of theirs; then your long suit runs unhindered.

3. Second hand low, third hand high

Playing second, keep your high cards and let the trick come round to your partner. Playing third, win it or force out a top card.

4. Don't trump your partner's winner

If your partner's card is already taking the trick, discard rather than overtrump. Save trumps for the opponents' good cards.

5. Count

Thirteen of each suit. Track how many have gone, especially trumps, to know when your remaining cards are good.

6. Keep an entry

Setting up a long suit is useless if you can't get back in to run it. Keep a high card in another suit as an entry.

Last updated 2026-10-21