Russi Whist

this is an Icelandic version of Scandinavian Whist. the name "Russi" is simply Icelandic for "Russian"

this game is for two players only using a standard 52 card pack, the cards of each suit ranking from high to low A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

the objective is to win more tricks than the opponent - no scoring of cards' value

no trumps in this game

deal

turn to deal alternates. the dealer shuffles and deals. each player is dealt 26 cards, one at a time beginning with dealer’s opponent and alternating:

• first each is dealt 9 cards face down on the table - 5 in the lower row, 4 in the upper row
• then another 9 cards face up on top of the face down ones
• then a hand of 8 cards face down

so, each player has 8 cards that only he can see (in the hand), and there are 18 down cards that neither player can see, and there are 18 face up cards that both can see

play

the non-dealer leads to the first trick

each trick consists of two cards. at your turn, you can play

• a card from your hand or
• one of the cards in your face up layout

as soon as a card from the layout is played, if this uncovers a face down card that card is immediately turned face up, before any other cards are played by either player

any card can be led. the other card played to the trick must follow Suit if possible. so if the leader’s opponent has any cards of the same Suit as the led card, either in hand or face up on the table, such a card must be played

the two-card trick is won by the higher card of the Suit that was led (there are no trumps). the player who wins the trick leads to the next

there is no scoring of cards' values - the player with more tricks just wins the game