The Whot deck

A Whot deck has 54 cards in five shapes: circles, triangles, crosses, squares and stars, plus five special Whot cards numbered 20. Each card shows a shape and a number.

How a round starts

Each player is dealt a hand, usually five or six cards. One card is turned face up to start the pile, and the rest become the market.

Playing a card

On your turn, play one card that matches the top card’s shape or number. A star 7 can go on any star, or on any 7. If you cannot play, go to market and pick one card, and your turn ends.

The special cards

1 is Hold On: the next player is held and you play again. 2 is Pick Two: the next player picks two cards, unless they block it with another 2 in houses that allow stacking. 14 is General Market: every other player picks one card. Many houses also play 8 as Suspension and 5 as Pick Three.

The Whot card

The 20 Whot card is wild. You can play it on anything, and you call the shape you need. The next player must play that shape or a Whot.

Last card and winning

When you are down to one card, announce it. The first player to finish all their cards wins the round.

Play it now

You can play Whot free on NigerianGames against computer players or friends on one phone.