Whot is the card game every Nigerian has played — at home, in the hostel, at the bus stop. The rules change a little from street to street, so here are the ones Naija Life uses. They are the common Naija rules, set for two players, and you can play them free in the Games app.
The Whot pack
A Whot pack has 54 cards in five shapes, plus five Whot cards:
| Shape | Numbers | Cards |
|---|---|---|
| ⭕ Circle | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 | 12 |
| 🔺 Triangle | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 | 12 |
| ➕ Cross | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14 | 9 |
| ⬛ Square | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14 | 9 |
| ⭐ Star | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 | 7 |
| 🃏 Whot | 20 | 5 |
How a game goes
- Each player is dealt 5 cards. One card is turned up to start the pile (the call card); the rest is the market. The first card never acts as a special.
- On your turn, play a card that matches the call card by shape or number — a circle on a circle, a 7 on a 7.
- Can’t play, or don’t want to? Go to market: draw one card and your turn ends.
- The first player to empty their hand — to check up — wins.
The special cards
| Card | Name | What it does (two players) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hold On | You play again. |
| 2 | Pick Two | Your opponent draws two; you play again. |
| 5 | Pick Three | Your opponent draws three; you play again. |
| 8 | Suspension | Your opponent misses a turn, so you play again. |
| 14 | General Market | Your opponent draws one; you play again. |
| 20 | Whot | Goes on anything. You call the shape that must follow. |
With only two at the table, every special hands the turn straight back to you — so a hand full of 1s, 2s and 14s can carry you a long way in one go. Save a Whot for when you are stuck: it goes on any card and lets you name the shape your opponent has to play.
When the market runs out
When the market is empty, the played cards are shuffled into a new market once. If it runs dry a second time, the game is counted: add up the numbers in each hand, with stars worth double. The lower hand wins; equal hands are a draw.
Whot tips
- Get rid of big numbers and stars early — they cost you double if the game goes to a count.
- Count the shapes you have seen. Only 7 stars and 9 crosses and squares exist, so a called star is hard to answer.
- When you call a shape with Whot, call the one you hold the most of.
- Chain your specials: Pick Two, then Hold On, then a matching card can empty a hand fast.
Questions people ask
How many cards are in a Whot pack?
54: twelve circles, twelve triangles, nine crosses, nine squares, seven stars and five Whot 20s.
What does 14 mean in Whot?
General Market: the other player draws a card from the market. In a two-player game you then play again.
What does 2 do in Whot?
Pick Two: the other player draws two cards from the market.
What does Whot 20 do?
It can be played on any card, and you call the shape that must be played next.
How do you win Whot?
Be first to play your last card (check up). If the market runs out twice, the lower hand wins, with stars counting double.
Where can I play Whot online free?
In the Games app in Naija Life, free on the web, Android and iPhone, against real players or the practice Coach.