Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How must players respond when they hold a card in the suit that was led in 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 classic game of whist, players are required to follow suit if they are able to do so. If a player holds a card in the suit that was led, they must play a card of that same suit to the trick. If a player is unable to follow suit, they are permitted to play any card from their hand.1