The game is a skillful one, as in the second half both players can calculate exactly which 13 cards the opponent has, and plan their play based on that knowledge.
German whist is a specific two-hand game that appears to originate in England.
[a] For example, Alexander Stephens in Johnson's Cyclopædia uses it to describe a four-hand variant of whist that was current in Germany in the late 19th century,[b][4] while "Portland" uses it to refer to the "bolder" way the Germans played whist compared with those in Britain.
[5] The specifically two-hand game of German whist was apparently popular "at Vienna among the diplomats" in the late 19th century.
[8] German whist is a two player game using a standard pack of 52 cards ranked A (high) K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 (low) in each suit.
The initial dealer is chosen by cutting the pack, and the turn to deal alternates after each hand.
The twenty-seventh card is placed face-up on the talon, i.e. the face-down pack.
[9] The non-dealer chooses any card to play for the first trick and the other player must follow suit if able.
[9] The second stage now begins, in which the remaining 13 tricks are played without replenishment until the cards in both players hands are exhausted.
[citation needed] The strategy for the two variants, in the first stage, is slightly different.
You have four low hearts in your hand, but also several high-value spades, and the top card of the deck is the two of clubs.
In general it is a good idea to attempt to keep the lead, but not always at any cost.
(If it is in your interest that the number of trump cards is reduced in the endgame especially) In "low" games try to build up long suits from the bottom.
When playing low, it is very easy to get trapped and having to take all the last ten tricks due to a miscalculation.
Play is as per normal whist and points are awarded for each trick won over the first six.