Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How many cards are dealt to each player in bid whist?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
whist
Men playing whist, watercolour on paper by Mary Ellen Best, c. mid-19th century; in the York Art Gallery, England.
In the game of bid whist, each of the four players is dealt 12 cards from a 54-card pack, which includes two jokers. The remaining six cards are placed facedown to form a kitty.1