Card games
Bid Whist
Uptown, downtown or no trump: jokers and a kitty of six
Bid Whist is the card game of African American family reunions, cookouts and card parties across the United States. Partners sit across, with 54 cards and the Big and Little Jokers: twelve each and six in the kitty. One round of bids — books over six, uptown when high cards win, downtown when low cards win, or no trump. The winner takes the kitty, buries six and names trump. Every book over six scores; set your bid and you lose it. +7 wins the game, −7 loses it.
- Players
- 4 players
- Length
- 5–15 min per game
- Type
- Card games
Play Bid Whist online with friends
At Masa, Bid Whist is a game of its own right next to Batak: pick it in the games list, open a table and share its code or link with your friends, or sit at a house table. Bots fill the empty chairs, and voice chat keeps the table talking.
How to play
- 1
Partners across, 54 cards with two jokers: 12 each and 6 in the kitty. +7 wins, −7 loses.
- 2
One round of bids, the dealer last: 3 to 7 books over six, uptown (high cards win), downtown (low cards win) or no trump — no trump beats the same number. Everyone passes: the dealer must bid.
- 3
The winner takes the kitty, buries six (his first book) and names the trump — at no trump: uptown or downtown. He leads.
- 4
The Big and Little Jokers are the two highest trumps. At no trump they win nothing and are played only when you cannot follow.
- 5
The declarer leads. Follow suit; without it, any card.
House rules
Pick any of these when you create a table; a table that changes none plays the rules above.
- Lowest bid — 3 · 4
- Boston — A made 7 wins the game; a set 7 loses it
- Three sets — A team set three times loses the game
Frequently asked questions
Is Bid Whist the same game as Batak?
No. Bid Whist is played at the same kind of table as Batak, but with rules of its own — see “How to play” above. At Masa it is a game of its own, with its own tables, stats and achievements.
Can I play Bid Whist online with friends?
Yes. Open a Bid Whist table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Bid Whist free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
