Knockout Whist - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Trick-taking elimination game with drinks

Equipment Needed

  • Standard deck of cards
  • Drinks

Setup

Deal 7 cards. Flip top for trump. Winner leads.

How to Play Knockout Whist

  1. Deal 7 cards to start (decreases each round)
  2. Trump suit determined by top card of deck
  3. Win tricks by playing highest trump or suit
  4. Win at least one trick or lose a card
  5. Lose a card = drink 1
  6. Eliminated = drink 3
  7. Last player with cards wins
  8. Winner assigns 5 drinks

Tips & Strategies

Save your trump cards for critical moments. Don't waste them early.

Variations

Dog's Life: Eliminated players get one more chance. Blind Trump: Trump unknown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I can't follow suit?
You can play any card, including trump to win.
Does the card count go back up?
No, it keeps decreasing until someone wins.

Players: 3-7 | Duration: 20-35 min | Difficulty: medium