The original version, known as Oh! Well, was described as 'one of the best round games.' Rules įour main variants are described below: the original British game known as Oh! Well, in which the number of cards dealt is the same every time (⇒), and three common modern variants. The game has many alternative names, but Oh Hell is by far the most common.

increasing the number from one to seven, from three to seventeen, or from seven to one and back to seven again. Over the decades the game has been elaborated both in Britain and the United States, usually by increasing or decreasing the number of cards dealt per round e.g. In these early rules, the number of cards dealt was fixed depending on the number of players and game was 100 points. The game was introduced into the United States very shortly after appearing in Britain and was first recorded in the New York clubs in 1931. Westall around 1930 under the name Oh! Well, and continued to be reprinted by Hubert Phillips until at least 1976. Prominent players of Oh Hell include former United States President Bill Clinton, who learned it from film director Steven Spielberg. Like many popular social card games, Oh Hell has many local and regional variants in rules and variations in names. The game uses trumps, often decided by turning a card after the cards have been distributed. Although the original game was played to 100 points, the modern variants differ from other trick-taking games in that players play a fixed number of deals. The game of Oh Hell explores the idea of taking an exact number of tricks specified by a bid after the deal. David Parlett gives other names Blackout, Bust, Elevator and Jungle Bridge, while John McLeod adds Blob, so called because the player's predicted bid is overwritten with a black blob if not achieved. This English game was originally called Oh! Well, but is often known as Contract Whist in Britain and, less commonly, as Nomination Whist, while American sources call it Oh Pshaw or, more frequently Oh Hell.

Phillips and Westall describe it as 'one of the best round games.' Name It was said to have been introduced into America via the New York clubs in 1931. Westall around 1930 and originally called Oh! Well. Oh Hell or Contract Whist is a trick-taking card game of British origin in which the object is to take exactly the number of tricks bid.

Card game rules oh hell