A trick-taking game with extra powers.
Rules
Components
| Qty | Item | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Partner Wizard cards | Blue backs |
| 34 | General Wizard cards | Purple backs |
| 1 deck | Standard 52-card deck | Not included |
| — | Point tokens / paper & pen | For scoring, not included |
Goal
Wizard Whist is a trick-taking game: follow suit if possible; trumps beat all. Each player starts each hand with 8 playing cards and 2 Wizard cards. Score tricks (and some special cards), and be the first player/team to reach 20 points.
Setup
- If you are 4 players, play 2 vs 2 (partners sit opposite). ➜ Each player draws 1 Partner Wizard card and 1 General Wizard card.
- With any other player-count, everyone draws 2 General Wizard cards.
- Starting with the dealer’s left and going clockwise, each player may perform the following two actions in any order:
- Card exchange — Discard any number of playing cards and draw the same number from the deck.
- Wizard mulligan — Either discard both Wizard cards at once, or keep them both.
- Determine the first dealer as you prefer; the deal then rotates clockwise each hand.
Round Sequence
- Play the hand. Eight tricks are played. The player to dealer’s left leads to the first trick.
- Using Wizard cards. You may play a Wizard card at any time:
- Instant (⚡) — card text resolves immediately, then it’s discarded.
- Permanent (📜) — its effect lasts for the entire hand or until another Wizard card supersedes it.
- Null trick rule. If you play a Wizard card during a trick and then win that same trick, the trick is nullified: no one (and no team) scores it.
- Scoring.
- Each trick you (or your team) wins = 1 point.
- Certain Wizard or playing cards may grant bonus points – follow the card text.
- During one hand, the tricks are kept track of by stacks of tricks, and extra points a kept track of by single cards.
- Clean-up & next hand.
- Record the points, collect all cards, reshuffle.
- Dealer passes one seat clockwise; deal a fresh hand.
End of the Game
The first player or team to reach 20 points wins. If a tie occurs, play additional hands until a clear winner emerges.
Handicap Rule (optional)
Experienced players do not perform the card exchange step.