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How does a trump card win a trick in classic whist?
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whist
Men playing whist, watercolour on paper by Mary Ellen Best, c. mid-19th century; in the York Art Gallery, England.
In classic whist, a trick is won by the highest card of the suit that was led, unless a trump card is played. If any trump cards are played during a trick, the highest-ranking trump card wins the trick, regardless of the suit that was originally led.1
Players are required to follow suit if they are able to do so; if a player cannot follow the suit led, they may play any card in their hand, including a trump card.1