Dummy whist is one of many variants of the classic trick-taking card game Whist. The general rules of dummy whist are similar to that of bid whist, with two notable exceptions. Bid whist is played by four players, whereas dummy whist is played by only three. Secondly, instead of dealing a kitty, a dummy hand is dealt to be on the team of the player who wins the auction.
Rules
Dummy whist is a version of whist for three players. The "dummy" is dealt 13 cards; the cards are kept face-down until after the auction, when the dummy's cards are turned face-up and facing opposite the declarer. After the dummy cards are turned face-up, the declarer declares a trump suit if he bid "uptown" or "downtown" or he declares uptown or downtown if he bid no-trump. If playing with jokers, the dummy is dealt 15 cards instead of the usual 13; the declarer is allowed to discard two cards from the dummy's hand before turning it face-up.
The rules of the game are the same as those of whist, with the following exceptions:
Bidding process
In dummy whist, after all of the cards have been dealt (but before the beginning of game play) each player may submit a bid. If a player chooses not to bid, the player may pass. The bidding starts with the player to the dealer's left and proceeds clockwise to each player in turn, ending with the dealer. In order to bid, a player must make a bid that is "better" (see below) than the best bid made by a previous player for the current hand. Unlike bridge, no deals are passed. If the first three players pass, the dealer (the last player) must make a bid. Unlike bid whist, dummy whist has no minimum bid.
A player's bid is a declaration of the minimum number of books (over the required six books) that will be taken (turned) by that player and their partner, followed by an indication either that the player wishes there to be no trump suit for the current hand, or of whether the player wants higher- or lower-ranking cards to be victorious in the current hand.
In determining what makes a bid 'better' than a previous bid, the initial consideration is the number of books being declared. Bidding a higher number of books than the current bid is always sufficient for making a better bid. Bidding a lower number of books can never be sufficient. If a player wishes to bid the same number of books as the current, the next consideration is whether the current bid indicated there would be no trump suit. If not (and the current bid indicates there will be a trump suit), the player now bidding may better the current bid by claiming the same number of books (but now bidding that there will be no trump suit). If the current bid already indicates there will be no trump suit, that bid may only be bettered with a higher number of books. In some variations, a bid which indicates that there will be a trump suit (and that higher-ranking cards will win) can also be bettered by bidding the same number of books and indicating that there will be a trump suit and that lower ranking-cards will win. In other variations, however, bids for higher- and lower-ranking cards (each with the same number of books) are considered equal. At the end of the bidding process, the player who has made the best bid is deemed to have won the bid. The winning bidder's indication, regarding either no-trump or the ranking of cards, is granted for the duration of the hand. That player and the dummy are now committed to taking at least the number of books indicated in the bid. The opposing players are committed to "setting" the bidding team by preventing them from succeeding in taking the number of books to which they are committed. After the auction, if the dummy was dealt 15 cards the declarer may discard two cards from the dummy's hand and the dummy's hand is turned face-up. If playing with 13 cards in the dummy's hand, their hand is turned face-up without discarding any cards. If the winning bid indicated a desire for no trump suit, before the beginning of play the winning bidder must indicate whether high-or low-ranking cards will be victorious during that hand. Conversely, if the winning bid indicated whether high- or low-ranking cards would win during this hand the winning bidder must now declare a trump suit for this hand. In high-winning hands, an ace serves as the highest card of its suit (better than a king). In low-ranking hands, an ace serves as the lowest card of its suit (better than a two). If there is a trump suit in the upcoming hand and jokers are being used, the jokers become the best cards of the trump suit (better than the ace) regardless of whether high- or low-ranking cards are the winners. If there is no trump suit, the jokers are worthless.