Minnesota whist is a simplified version of whist in which there are no trumps, and the goal of the game is to take 7 of the 13 tricks. Four-handed whist is played with two teams. The players of each team sit opposite each other at the table. One person is elected to keep score. Typically the scorer's team is labeled as "Us" and the other team labeled as "Them". In this game, the ace is high. This style of whist is sometimes referred to as Norwegian Whist as it has been passed forward to the Upper Midwest by Norwegian immigrants.
Cards are dealt one at a time starting with the person to the left of the dealer and moving clockwise until all cards are dealt. Each person should have 13 cards.
Each person analyzes his/her hand and determines whether to "pass" or "grand". If a player wants to "grand", he lays down a nondescript black card; otherwise, he lays a red card.
After all 4 players have laid down their cards, players flip up their cards in turn, starting with the person just left of the dealer.
As soon as a black card is flipped up, no one else has to flip their card up.
If any cards are black, the goal is to take as many tricks as possible.
If all cards are red, the goal is to take as few tricks as possible.
Play begins with the person to the right of the person who granded or, if playing low, the person to the left of the dealer.
Taking Tricks
The person who leads lays down a card from his/her hand. Everyone must follow suit if they can. If a player cannot, he lays down any other card. Highest card of the lead suit takes the trick. Whoever takes the trick leads the next one. Each team pools their tricks, so only one player from each team needs to collect the winning tricks. Play continues until all cards are gone. Dealer moves one to the left.
Scoring
If the goal is to lose tricks, the team gets a point for every trick under 7 total. If the goal is to win tricks, the team gets a point for every trick over 6 total if the team granded, or 2 points for every trick over 6 total if the opposing team granded. The game continues until one team reaches a pre-designated point total, typically 13.
No cards are laid down after the hands are dealt; each player instead has the option to either pass or grand. If everybody passes, the hand is played as low, like in the main rules.
If a player grands, then the player to the right of the player who grands leads the first trick.
