Whot is played everywhere in Nigeria with a distinctive pack of five geometric shapes plus twenty wild cards. Our implementation uses independently coded rules and entirely original artwork; the commercial pack sold under that name is a separate branded product.
Variant implemented
Common Nigerian house rules on the 54-card five-shape pack: match shape or number, 1 = hold on, 2 = pick two, 5 = pick three, 8 = suspension, 14 = general market, 20 (Whot) = choose the shape. Play until a hand is empty; lowest total wins if the market runs out.
Board and pieces
A 54-card pack of five geometric shapes — circle, triangle, cross, square and star — plus five wild cards numbered 20.
Setup
Five cards to each player. One card is turned face up to start the pile; the rest form the market.
Turn
Play a card matching the shape or the number of the top card, or a wild card. If you cannot play, go to market and draw one.
Capture and scoring
None — this is a shedding game.
Win condition
Empty your hand. If the market runs out and the player to move cannot play, the smallest hand total wins.
Draw condition
None.
Special rules
Specials: 1 hold on (play again) · 2 pick two · 5 pick three · 8 suspension (next player misses a turn) · 14 general market (everyone else draws one) · 20 wild, and you name the shape to continue with.
Computer opponent
Heuristic: lead with offensive specials, shed high ordinary cards, and save wild cards for when nothing else fits. When naming a shape it picks the one it holds most of.