How To Play

How to Play Bridge in Standard American English

Bridge is a four-player trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. The objective of the game is to be the first partnership to reach a predetermined number of points by taking tricks containing high-ranking cards.

Setting Up the Game

1. Gather four players. Bridge is played with two partnerships of two players each.
2. Shuffle the deck. One player shuffles the deck thoroughly.
3. Deal the cards. The dealer deals 13 cards to each player, one card at a time.
4. Determine the trump suit. The player to the left of the dealer names the trump suit. This is the suit that will rank highest during the game.

Bidding

1. Start with the dealer. The player to the left of the dealer starts the bidding.
2. Bid on tricks. Each player bids on the number of tricks they believe their partnership can take.
3. The highest bid becomes the contract. The partnership that bids the highest number of tricks becomes the declaring partnership.
4. Double and redouble. After the initial bid, players can double or redouble the contract. This increases the points awarded for a successful contract or penalty for a failed contract.

Playing a Hand

1. The declarer leads. The player of the declaring partnership who bid the highest number of tricks leads the first card.
2. Follow suit. Each player in turn must play a card of the same suit as the lead card, if possible.
3. Trump. If a player cannot follow suit, they may play a trump card.
4. Winning the trick. The highest-ranking card of the suit led or the highest-ranking trump card wins the trick.
5. Collecting tricks. The partnership that takes the most cards in a trick collects the trick.

Scoring

1. Contract points. The declaring partnership earns 10 points for each trick they bid.
2. Tricks bid. The partnership earns 1 point for each trick they take beyond their bid.
3. Overtricks. If the partnership takes more tricks than they bid, they earn 10 points for each overtrick.
4. Undertricks. If the partnership takes fewer tricks than they bid, they lose 10 points for each undertrick.
5. Game. The first partnership to reach 100 points wins the game.

Additional Rules

1. No peeking. Players cannot look at their partner’s cards or reveal their own cards to their partner.
2. Follow suit. Players must follow suit if they have a card of that suit.
3. Lead with your strongest suit. The declarer should lead with their strongest suit, which is the suit they have the most cards in.
4. Protect your partner’s suit. Players should avoid trumping their partner’s suit if they have a card of that suit.
5. Control the trumps. Players should try to control the trump cards by taking them early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a trick?
A: A trick is a set of four cards played by each of the four players. The highest-ranking card wins the trick.

Q: What is the difference between a suit and a trump?
A: A suit is one of the four divisions of cards (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades). A trump is a card that is higher in rank than any other card in the same suit or in any other suit.

Q: What does it mean to double or redouble?
A: Doubling or redoubling increases the points awarded for a successful contract or penalty for a failed contract. Doubling doubles the points, while redoubling doubles the points again.

Q: What is a game?
A: A game is a round of play in which the first partnership to reach 100 points wins.