# Bid Whist

> Strategic two-team trick-taking card game with customizable rules. (iPhone/iPad app by Jerod Motley.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bid-whist/id412382535 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jerod Motley](https://appshunter.io/developer/378718536)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Card
- Price: Free
- Rating: 1.70/5 from 195 App Store ratings · 117 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 18.2 · 53 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-02-23
- Data updated: 2026-07-30
- Monetization: ad-supported
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bid-whist/id412382535/reviews.md

## What is Bid Whist?

Bid Whist is a popular book (or trick) taking game in which two teams of two players try to win the bid or set their opponents. If you're familiar with spades, bridge or hearts, or if you just like a very strategic challenge, you will love this game.

Options include:
- Deuce of Spades as third joker
- Low bid beating High bid
- Board of 4 instead of 3
- Register to compare scores with other players

Notes:
- Ace is always the high card in non-trump suits, whether uptown or downtown.
- Your hand is automatically arranged based on an uptown/downtown bid and the trump suit
- The kitty is not sported
- Over books are not counted
- To be credited for a Boston, you must bid and win 7. Simply getting all the books will not count for a Boston if you bid less than 7.

## Key features

- Trick-taking gameplay
- Team-based play
- Customizable rules
- Score comparison
- Automatic hand arrangement

## What do users think of Bid Whist?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 🎮 Engaging gameplay mechanics
- 📱 Accessible card game adaptation
- 🎨 Afrocentric card design appreciated
- ⚡ Fast-paced game rounds
- 🏆 Good for skill development
- 😄 Fun and entertaining when working properly

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent game freezing and crashes
- 📦 Duplicate cards dealt in hands
- 👁️ Cards and text too small to read
- ❌ Incorrect renege accusations
- 🎯 Flawed bidding logic and suggestions
- 🔄 Game doesn't progress after bidding
- 📐 Poor UI layout and design
- 🎪 Offensive player names
- 🔊 Sound control issues
- 📺 Landscape mode broken
- 💰 Ads reappear after paid removal
- 🤖 Poor AI partner strategy
- ⚖️ Incorrect scoring calculations
- 🃏 Broken game rules implementation

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Game freezes during bidding phase
- Multiple identical cards in single hand
- Screen displays 'waiting for bids' indefinitely
- Cards not visible (obscured by ads or cut off)
- Low bid not beating high bid despite settings
- Cannot bid lower when opponent bid same number high
- False renege warnings when player has no cards of suit
- Game ends prematurely with cards remaining
- Partner plays against bidder in no-trump hands
- Incorrect card ordering in hand
- Cards freeze and won't play
- Ad banner obscures bottom cards
- Disproportionate display in landscape orientation
- Game doesn't recognize no-trump bids properly
- Duplicate cards played simultaneously by different players
- Scoring errors and miscalculations
- Cards not organized properly for low bids
- Kitty replacement cards unplayable
- Partner cuts winning cards unnecessarily
- Game crashes on iOS updates

**Most requested features**

- Revert to previous app version
- Customizable player names
- Standard card face options
- Online profile registration and tracking
- Challenge completion tracking
- Help/tutorial documentation
- Settings for difficulty levels
- Bid history/review button
- Better partner AI strategy
- Sound control for background music
- Landscape mode support
- Boston game special provisions
- Option to change card back designs

## Recent user reviews (10 of 117)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bid-whist/id412382535/reviews.md

### 2/5 — i’d rather you have not updated this game to whatever this is

*2026-06-18, version 2.1.3*

i’ve been patient waiting for corrective updates, but come on…

•i’m not able to bid a 4 special, even when i have selected that as a game play option in the settings
•the app usually crashes when my team does well, thus not being able to finish a game
•my “partner” used to be a much smarter, intuitive player-like not still running trumps when our opponents run out, yet i still have them, coming back in a suit that my partner has information that i am cutting. 

fix this please

### 3/5 — Good game ruined by ads

*2026-05-24, version 2.1.3*

The ads in the game trap you in the screen and you have to exit the game to continue. I played almost everyday before they added the ads. ADs ARE RUINING THE GAME!!!!

### 1/5 — Not better

*2026-05-19, version 2.1.3*

This app has gotten worse. My partner has got to be the worst whist player ever. They make foolish plays no real player ever would. The dealing is also flawed. 90% of the time I get mediocre hands full of 8s 9s and 10s. Jokers are rare- about once in 20 deals. And for the love of the game, please get rid of the suggested bid.

### 1/5 — Update features not good

*2026-03-22, version 2.1.0*

Suggested Bid not on point
Cards too small
Don’t want the feature for repeating games with the same players 
Where is the sound control for the Boston Train?

### 2/5 — Hard to read

*2026-03-15, version 2.0.9*

As an 82 year old player I find the symbols hard to read.  I have had this app for more than 15 years and I have shared it with many friends.  The new look is far from good.

### 2/5 — Bid whist web site

*2026-03-12, version 2.0.8*

The site needs to be fixed!  Only the top of a hand shows not the bottom it just started happening you can’t see all the cards in your hand

### 1/5 — I Can’t See

*2026-03-11, version 2.0.8*

This fix was horrible We cannot see our partners bid!

### 1/5 — UPDATE NOT GOOD

*2026-03-11, version 2.0.8*

I enjoyed this app until the last update. I used to use it all the time, but no I don’t use it at all. please go back to the way it was before the update in March 2026. I would rate a 0 if I could.

### 2/5 — Update needs an update

*2026-03-10*

Multiple players are making the same bid.  For instance while TWO players had already bid a four low, it was “suggested” that I bid a four low. Also, too many times after all bidding is done, the game doesn’t start. Instead, I see “waiting for bids”.
Furthermore, an opponent bid a 5 high in diamonds and my partner and I played higher diamonds in two instances, yet the opponent who bid by the way, received the books.

### 1/5 — New update is riddled with bugs

*2026-03-09*

I’ve had this game for years, and while the new update is a nice change in graphics, the game play has suffered due to a number of bugs. 

1. There are frequent instances where the round of bids doesn’t complete and the game freezes. This happens at least 1 out of 3 times I play the game. 
2. When set to allow low bids to beat high bids, it still acts as if the player that bid high won the bid, but low cards win in their chosen suit. The cards are not organized in the hand for a low bid, and the low bid player gets penalized if the bid is not met.  
3.  With the low bid setting, if I as the only live player tries to bid 4 low after another player has bid 4 high, it is not an option. Can only bid 4 no or higher. 
4. If phone is turned to landscape, the screen is disproportionate and the game cannot be played in either landscape or portrait orientation. 

I’m sure there are more bugs, but these are the biggest and most annoying that I’ve found so far. 

I hope the next update fixes these bugs, and if not, I would like to know how to revert to the old version.

## Frequently asked questions about Bid Whist

### What is Bid Whist?

Bid Whist is a popular trick-taking card game played by two teams of two players. The objective is to win bids and outscore opponents by taking tricks. It offers a highly strategic gameplay experience.

### What are some of the customizable options in Bid Whist?

The game includes several options to tailor the gameplay, such as setting the Deuce of Spades as a third joker, allowing low bids to beat high bids, changing the board size, and enabling score registration to compare with other players.

### Is Bid Whist free to play?

Yes, the game is free to play. It is supported by advertisements, which allows users to enjoy the full game experience without any upfront cost.

### Who is Bid Whist designed for?

This game is ideal for individuals who enjoy strategic card games and are familiar with titles like Spades, Bridge, or Hearts. It's perfect for those seeking a mentally engaging and competitive gaming experience.

### How does scoring work in Bid Whist?

The game involves bidding to win a certain number of tricks. Ace is always the high card in non-trump suits. Specific rules apply to scoring Bostons (winning all tricks when bidding 7) and over books are not counted.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1.4 — 2026-07-27

Bug fixes

### 2.1.3 — 2026-05-07

Bug fixes.

### 2.1.2 — 2026-04-22

Bug fixes.

### 2.1.1 — 2026-04-18

bug fixes

### 2.1.0 — 2026-03-20

Bug fixes

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## More apps by Jerod Motley

- [jSpades 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jspades-2/id871855636)
- [Bourré](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bourre/id1448644426)
- [Perceptionz](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/perceptionz/id1493472007)

All apps by Jerod Motley: https://appshunter.io/developer/378718536

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-30.*