It became the standard text and rules for the game for the next hundred years and led to the game becoming fashionable. Edmond Hoyle, suspected to be a member of this group, began to tutor wealthy young gentlemen in the game and published A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist in 1742. The game takes its name from the 17th Century whist (or wist) meaning quiet, silent, attentive, which is the root of the modern wistful.Īccording to Barrington, Whist was first played on scientific principles by a party of gentlemen who frequented the Crown Coffee House in Bedford Row, London, around 1728. Whist replaced the popular variant of trump known as Ruff and Honours. Whist is a descendant of the 16th century game of trump or ruff. Although the rules are extremely simple, there is enormous scope for scientific play. Whist is a classic English trick-taking card game which was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries.
De La Rue.Īuction bridge, Contract bridge, Wendellhead, Solo whist, Tarneeb A 19th-century whist marker by the British printing Co.
