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.
