View source for Knock-out whist

{{Short description|Card game}}
{{Infobox CardGame
| title = Knock-out whist
| subtitle =
| image_link = Bridge declarer.jpg
| image_caption =
| Family = [[Trick-taking]]
| alt_names =
| type =
| players = 2-7
| play = Clockwise
| num_cards = 52(excluding Jokers)
| deck = Anglo-American
| origin = [[England]]
| related = [[Bid whist]]
| playing_time = 5–15 min.
| random_chance = Medium
| skills = Tactics and strategy
| footnotes =
}}
'''Knock-out whist''' or '''knockout whist''' is a member of the whist family<ref>The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Card Games, p. 455, Diagram Group {{ISBN|0-8069-1330-4}}</ref> known by a variety of names including ''[[Trump (card games)|trumps]]'' in Britain, ''reduction whist'', ''diminishing whist'' (from the way one fewer card is dealt each hand) and ''rat''. It is often simply called ''whist'' by players who are unfamiliar with the game properly called [[whist]]. It is a basic [[trick-taking game]] and is a good way to teach the concept of tricks to children.
== Rules ==
=== Overview and equipment ===
The game may be played by two to seven players. The aim is to be the last player left in at the end of the game, with the object in each [[hand (cards)|hand]] being to win a majority of tricks.<ref>Great big book of children's games: over 450 indoor and outdoor games for kids, p. 42 Debra Wise -  McGraw-Hill {{ISBN|0-07-142246-3}}</ref> A [[standard 52 card pack]] is used. The cards in each suit [[rank (cards)|rank]] from highest to lowest: A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2.<ref name=pagat>[https://www.pagat.com/whist/kowhist.html ''Knock-Out Whist''] at [[pagat.com]]. Retrieved 20 November 2022.</ref>
=== Deal ===
For the first [[hand (cards)|hand]], the [[dealer (card player)|dealer]] deals seven cards to each player and one card is turned up to indicate that its [[suit (cards)|suit]] is the [[trump (card game)|trump]] suit for the first round. In subsequent hands, the deal rotates to the left and the player who took the most tricks selects trumps in the next hand. If two or more players tie for the highest number of tricks taken, they cut cards to decide who calls trumps. The deal rotates clockwise and one fewer card is dealt in each successive hand until the final hand is played which consists of one card each.<ref name=pagat/>
=== Play ===
[[Eldest hand]] (the player to the dealer's left) leads to the first trick; any card may be led. The other players, in clockwise order, each play a card to the trick and must [[follow suit]] by playing a card of the [[suit led]] if able. A player with no cards of the suit led may play any card, either [[discarding]] or [[trumping (cards)|trumping]]. The trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, unless a trump is played, in which case the highest trump wins. The winner of the trick leads to the next trick. Some rules disallow leading trumps before the trump suit has been 'broken' by a trump being played to the lead of another suit (though of course leading trumps is always permissible if a player holds nothing else).
=== Knockout ===
At the end of each hand, any player who took no tricks is knocked out (hence the name) and takes no further part in the game.<ref name=pagat/>
An exception is that the first player who takes no tricks is awarded a "dog's life". In the next hand, that player is dealt one card and can decide which trick to play it to. Each time a trick is played the "dog" may either play the card or knock on the table and wait to play it later. If the dog wins a trick, the player to the left leads to the next and the dog re-enters the game properly in the next hand. If the dog fails, they are knocked out.<ref name=pagat/>
The game is won at any stage when a player takes all the tricks in a round, as all the remainder are knocked after that there would only be one player remaining.
=== Variations ===
The following variations may be played:
* ''No picture, no play''. Until the card count is at 5 a player can declare "no picture, no play" if no card in their hand is higher than a ten. All the cards are thrown in and the hand is re dealt.
* ''Rainbow''. When exactly four cards are dealt, any player holding one card of each suit ({{Clubs}} {{Hearts}} {{Spades}} {{Diamonds}}) declares that a "rainbow" and automatically wins that round with no play required. The card count then goes down to three. If more than one person has rainbow, then the cards are cut to decide who calls trump.<ref name=pagat/>
* ''Pack of dogs''. Every player gets one dog's chance.
* ''Blind dog''. A player who is already on a dog's chance but loses their card gets a "blind dog's chance" whereby they are dealt a face-down card in the next round and may decide when to use it without looking at it. If they fail to take a trick with it, they are knocked out.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZzvvhReRj8C&pg=PT53 | title=Chambers Card Games for Families | publisher=[[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette]] | author=Arnold, Peter | year=2011 | isbn=978-0550101983 | page=53}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Whist]]
*[[Bid whist]]
*[[Dummy whist]]
==References==
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Whist}}
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{pagat|Knock-Out Whist|whist/kowhist.html}}
{{Trick-taking card games}}
{{Children's card games}}
[[Category:English card games]]
[[Category:French deck card games]]
[[Category:Whist group]]
[[Category:Round games]]