How to Play Bridge

Contract Bridge is a four-player partnership card game that combines bidding, communication, strategy, and trick-taking. Partners use the auction to describe their hands and choose a contract, then one partnership attempts to win the required number of tricks while the other partnership defends.

This guide explains the basic rules of Contract Bridge, including the deck, deal, auction, contract, declarer, dummy, trump and notrump play, trick-taking, and scoring. Bridge bidding systems can become highly detailed, but the fundamental structure of the game is straightforward.

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Quick Navigation

• Bridge at a Glance
• The Bridge Deck
• Setup and Deal
• How to Play Bridge
• The Auction and Bidding
• Understanding the Contract
• Declarer, Dummy, and Defenders
• Trick-Taking Rules
• Bridge Scoring Basics
• Basic Bidding Concepts
• Rubber, Chicago, and Duplicate Bridge
• Choosing Bridge Cards
• Bridge FAQ

Bridge at a Glance

The players sitting opposite each other are partners:

• North and South form one partnership.
• East and West form the other partnership.

Each deal has three main parts:

1. The auction: players bid to determine the contract.
2. The play: the declaring side tries to make the contract while the defenders try to defeat it.
3. The scoring: points are awarded according to the contract and result.

What Cards Are Used for Bridge?

Bridge uses one standard 52-card deck without Jokers.

The cards rank from highest to lowest:

Ace → King → Queen → Jack → 10 → 9 → 8 → 7 → 6 → 5 → 4 → 3 → 2

All four suits contain 13 cards:

• Spades
• Hearts
• Diamonds
• Clubs

Do You Need Special Bridge Cards?

No. Bridge can be played with any complete standard deck.

Many bridge players prefer bridge-size cards, which are slightly narrower than poker-size cards and easier to hold in a 13-card hand. The card size does not change the rules.

Why Do Bridge Sets Often Include Two Decks?

Only one deck is used for each deal. Two-deck sets are convenient because one deck can be shuffled while the other is being played, reducing delays between hands.

Bridge Setup and Deal

1. Divide four players into two partnerships.
2. Partners sit opposite each other.
3. Choose the first dealer.
4. Shuffle and cut the 52-card deck.
5. Deal the cards clockwise, one at a time.
6. Each player receives 13 cards.
7. Players organize their hands by suit.

The deal and bidding move clockwise around the table.

In casual bridge, the deal normally passes to the next player after each hand. In duplicate bridge, prepared hands are stored in boards so several tables can play the same deals.

How to Play Bridge: Step by Step

1. Deal 13 cards to each player.
2. Hold the auction. Players bid, pass, double, or redouble.
3. Determine the contract. The final bid establishes the number of tricks and the trump suit or notrump.
4. Identify the declarer. The first player on the winning partnership who named the contract suit or notrump becomes declarer.
5. Make the opening lead. The player to declarer’s left leads the first card.
6. Expose the dummy. Declarer’s partner places all 13 cards face up.
7. Play 13 tricks. Declarer controls both the declarer hand and dummy while the other partnership defends.
8. Count the tricks. Determine whether the declaring side fulfilled the contract.
9. Score the deal.

The Bridge Auction and Bidding

The auction determines the contract for the deal. The dealer makes the first call, and the auction proceeds clockwise.

A player may make one of four types of calls:

• Bid
• Pass
• Double
• Redouble

What Is a Bridge Bid?

A bid contains:

• A number from 1 through 7
• A denomination: clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades, or notrump

The number represents how many tricks above six the partnership promises to win.

For example:

• 1♠ promises at least seven tricks with spades as trump.
• 3NT promises at least nine tricks with no trump suit.
• 4♥ promises at least ten tricks with hearts as trump.
• 6♣ promises at least twelve tricks with clubs as trump.

Bridge Bidding Order

At each level, the denominations rank from lowest to highest:

Clubs → Diamonds → Hearts → Spades → Notrump

Each new bid must rank higher than the previous bid.

For example, after a bid of 1♥, valid higher bids include:

• 1♠
• 1NT
• 2♣ or any higher bid

A bid of 1♦ would not be legal because diamonds rank below hearts at the same level.

This ranking applies to the auction only. It does not make spades stronger than hearts during trick play unless spades are trump.

What Does Pass Mean?

A player who does not wish to bid, double, or redouble says “Pass.” Passing does not necessarily remove the player from the auction. If bidding continues, the player may make another call on a later turn.

When Does the Auction End?

The auction ends after a bid, double, or redouble is followed by three consecutive passes.

The last bid becomes the contract.

If all four players pass without anyone bidding, the hand is passed out. No cards are played, and the next player deals.

What Are Double and Redouble?

A player may double an opponent’s contract when the player believes it will not be made. Doubling increases both the potential score for making the contract and the penalties for failing.

The declaring side may respond by redoubling, increasing the stakes again.

Double and redouble have detailed strategic uses, but beginners can learn the game without using them at first.

Understanding the Bridge Contract

The final bid in the auction becomes the contract.

A contract establishes:

• The declaring partnership
• The number of tricks required
• The trump suit or notrump denomination
• Whether the contract has been doubled or redoubled

Example Contract

Suppose the final bid is 4♥.

• Hearts are trump.
• The declaring side must win at least ten tricks.
• Six tricks are considered the basic “book.”
• The bid of four adds four more required tricks.

If the declaring side wins ten or more tricks, the contract is made. If it wins nine or fewer, the contract is defeated.

Trump Contract vs. Notrump Contract

In a trump contract, one suit outranks the others during play. A low trump card can win a trick containing high cards from another suit.

In a notrump contract, there is no trump suit. Each trick is won by the highest card of the suit led.

Declarer, Dummy, and Defenders

Once the auction ends, the four players take specific roles.

Declarer

The declarer is the first player on the winning partnership who bid the denomination of the final contract.

For example, if North first bid hearts, South later bid hearts, and the final contract is in hearts, North is declarer because North named hearts first.

Dummy

Declarer’s partner becomes the dummy.

After the opening lead, dummy places all 13 cards face up on the table, arranged by suit. If the contract has a trump suit, the trump cards are traditionally placed on dummy’s right.

Declarer chooses which card is played from dummy whenever it is dummy’s turn. Dummy does not make strategic decisions or suggest plays.

Defenders

The two players on the opposing partnership are the defenders. Their goal is to prevent declarer from taking enough tricks to make the contract.

Opening Leader

The defender seated to declarer’s left makes the opening lead. Dummy’s hand is exposed immediately after that card is led.

How Trick-Taking Works in Bridge

Bridge contains 13 tricks. Each player contributes one card to each trick.

Following Suit

The player who leads may play any card.

Each other player must follow the suit led when able.

A player who cannot follow suit may play any card, including:

• A card from another suit
• A trump card in a trump contract

A player is never required to play a trump card when unable to follow suit.

Winning a Trick

In a notrump contract, the trick is won by the highest card of the suit led.

In a trump contract:

• The highest trump card played wins the trick.
• If no trump is played, the highest card of the suit led wins.

The winner of each trick leads the next trick.

Example Trick

Hearts are trump. West leads the Ace of Clubs.

• North follows with the 5 of Clubs.
• East follows with the King of Clubs.
• South has no clubs and plays the 2 of Hearts.

South wins the trick because a trump card outranks every non-trump card, even though it is only the 2.

Playing from Dummy

Declarer manages two hands:

• Declarer’s own concealed hand
• Dummy’s exposed hand

The correct hand must lead each trick. If dummy wins a trick, the next lead must come from dummy. If declarer’s hand wins, the next lead comes from declarer’s hand.

Making or Defeating the Contract

After all 13 tricks are played, count the tricks won by the declaring side.

Making the Contract

The contract is made when declarer’s side wins at least the required number of tricks.

For example:

• A contract of 2♠ requires eight tricks.
• A contract of 3NT requires nine tricks.
• A contract of 4♥ requires ten tricks.

Overtricks

Any tricks won beyond the contract requirement are called overtricks.

If declarer plays 3NT and wins ten tricks, the contract is made with one overtrick.

Undertricks

When declarer fails to make the contract, the missing tricks are called undertricks.

If declarer plays 4♠ but wins only eight tricks, the contract is down two.

The defending side receives penalty points for defeated contracts.

Bridge Scoring Basics

Bridge scoring rewards partnerships for bidding accurately rather than simply taking as many tricks as possible.

The exact score depends on:

• The contract level
• The trump suit or notrump denomination
• Whether the contract was doubled or redoubled
• Whether the declaring side is vulnerable
• The number of overtricks or undertricks

Contract Trick Values

Only tricks above the first six count as contract tricks.

Partscore and Game

An undoubled contract producing fewer than 100 contract-trick points is a partscore.

A contract producing at least 100 contract-trick points is a game.

The lowest common game contracts are:

• 3NT: nine tricks
• 4♥ or 4♠: ten tricks
• 5♣ or 5♦: eleven tricks

Making a partscore earns a 50-point bonus in duplicate-style scoring.

Making a game earns:

• 300 bonus points when not vulnerable
• 500 bonus points when vulnerable

Slam Contracts

• Small slam: a contract at the six level requiring 12 tricks
• Grand slam: a contract at the seven level requiring all 13 tricks

Slams earn substantial additional bonuses because they require the declaring side to win nearly every trick.

Vulnerability

Vulnerability increases game and slam bonuses, but it also increases penalties when a contract is defeated.

In duplicate bridge, vulnerability is printed on each board. In rubber and Chicago bridge, vulnerability is determined by the scoring format and previous results.

Doubled and Redoubled Contracts

Doubling and redoubling increase contract points, overtrick values, bonuses, and undertrick penalties. Beginners can use a printed bridge score chart rather than memorizing every doubled and redoubled value.

Simple Scoring Example

North-South play a contract of 4♥ and win ten tricks while not vulnerable.

• Four heart contract tricks at 30 points each: 120
• Non-vulnerable game bonus: 300
• Total: 420 points

If North-South win eleven tricks, they also receive points for one overtrick.

Basic Bridge Bidding Concepts

Bridge partners use bidding to exchange information about their hands. The meaning of many bids depends on the bidding system agreed upon by the partnership.

Bidding systems and conventions are not separate rules of the game. They are partnership agreements about what particular bids mean.

High-Card Points

A common beginner method assigns:

There are 40 high-card points in the deck.

Many beginner systems open the bidding with approximately 12 or more high-card points, although hand shape and partnership agreements also matter.

Major and Minor Suits

• Major suits: hearts and spades
• Minor suits: clubs and diamonds

Major-suit contracts require fewer tricks to earn a game bonus, so partnerships often look for an eight-card or longer combined fit in hearts or spades.

Balanced Hands and Notrump

A balanced hand has relatively even suit distribution and no extremely short suit. Balanced hands with suitable strength are often described through notrump bids.

Finding a Fit

A suit fit means the partnership holds enough cards in one suit to make it a practical trump suit. An eight-card combined fit is a common target.

Partnership Agreements

Partners should agree on a bidding system before playing. Common beginner systems include Standard American and Acol, but their exact meanings differ.

Bridge rules require partnership agreements to be disclosed to the opponents when appropriate. Partners may not use secret bidding meanings.

Simple Bridge Auction Example

Suppose the auction proceeds:

The final contract is 4♥.

• North-South are the declaring side.
• North is declarer because North was the first player on the partnership to bid hearts.
• South becomes dummy.
• East, sitting to North’s left, makes the opening lead.
• North-South must win at least ten tricks.

Rubber, Chicago, and Duplicate Bridge

The basic auction and trick-taking rules remain the same across the principal forms of Contract Bridge. The main differences involve scoring and how deals are organized.

Rubber Bridge

Rubber Bridge is a traditional home format. Partnerships play a series of deals and attempt to win two games. Scores and vulnerability carry over from one deal to the next.

Chicago Bridge

Chicago—also called four-deal bridge—uses a fixed set of four deals. Dealer position and vulnerability change according to a predetermined schedule.

Chicago is convenient for home play because every round lasts exactly four deals.

Duplicate Bridge

Duplicate Bridge places the same card deals into numbered boards and has multiple partnerships play those same deals.

Results are compared with other players who held the same cards. This reduces the role of luck from receiving unusually strong or weak hands.

Duplicate may be scored using matchpoints, international matchpoints, or other competition formats.

Party Bridge

Party Bridge is an informal social format that may use Rubber, Chicago, or another locally agreed scoring method.

Basic Bridge Tips for Beginners

• Count your high-card points. This gives you an initial estimate of hand strength.
• Organize your hand by suit. This makes bidding and following suit easier.
• Remember the auction. Bids and passes provide clues about the location of high cards and long suits.
• Count your winners. Declarer should identify immediate winning tricks before playing from dummy.
• Count the trump cards. In a trump contract, track how many trumps remain unseen.
• Follow suit carefully. Failing to follow suit when able is a serious rules violation.
• Plan before playing from dummy. Once dummy is visible, declarer should consider the entire hand.
• Lead partner’s suit when appropriate. Defenders use the auction and previous play to cooperate.
• Do not communicate outside the auction and legal play. Gestures, comments, and signals not permitted by the rules are prohibited.

Choosing the Best Cards for Bridge

The best bridge cards depend on comfort, readability, durability, and how frequently your group plays.

Bridge Size vs. Poker Size

• Bridge size: narrower and easier to hold in a 13-card hand
• Poker size: wider but fully legal for bridge

Bridge-size cards are the traditional and most comfortable choice for many regular players. For a detailed comparison, read Bridge Size vs. Poker Size Playing Cards.

Standard Index vs. Jumbo Index

• Standard index: traditional proportions and more open card faces
• Jumbo index: larger corner markings for easier reading across the table

Jumbo-index cards are often preferred by clubs, senior groups, and players who prioritize readability.

Paper, Plastic, and Cellulose Acetate

• Paper cards: familiar handling and economical replacement cost
• Plastic cards: washable and highly durable for frequent play
• Cellulose acetate cards: premium flexible cards associated with KEM

Single Deck vs. Two-Deck Set

• Single deck: sufficient for playing one hand at a time
• Two-deck set: allows one deck to be shuffled while the other is in use

Popular Bridge Brands

• Congress – traditional bridge-size decks and decorative two-deck sets
• KEM – premium cellulose acetate bridge cards
• Copag – durable 100% plastic bridge-size cards
• Bicycle – familiar everyday bridge decks
• Piatnik, Modiano, Hoyle, and other brands – additional bridge-size and gift-set options

Browse the full Bridge Playing Cards Collection or compare the leading options in our Best Cards for Bridge Players Guide.

More How to Play Card Games

Explore more complete rules guides for classic card games:

• How to Play Pinochle – Learn the deck, auction, melds, trump, trick-taking, and scoring.
• How to Play Euchre – Learn the bowers, choosing trump, stick the dealer, loners, tricks, and scoring.
• How to Play Canasta – Learn melds, canastas, wild cards, the discard pile, going out, and scoring.
• How to Play Bridge – Learn the deal, auction, contracts, declarer and dummy, trick-taking, and scoring.
• How to Play Spades – Learn bidding, Nil, breaking spades, tricks, overtricks, and scoring.
• How to Play Hearts – Learn passing, the opening lead, breaking hearts, the Queen of Spades, and shooting the moon.
• How to Play Rummy – Learn the deal, sets and runs, drawing, discarding, going out, and scoring.

Browse all of our educational resources in the Playing Card Guides hub.

Bridge Frequently Asked Questions

How many people play Bridge?

Contract Bridge is played by four players divided into two partnerships. Partners sit opposite each other.

How many cards does each Bridge player receive?

Each player receives 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck.

Do you use Jokers in Bridge?

No. Contract Bridge uses a standard 52-card deck without Jokers.

What is the goal of Bridge?

The declaring partnership tries to win the number of tricks promised by its contract. The defending partnership tries to prevent the contract from being made.

What does a Bridge bid mean?

A Bridge bid contains a number from one through seven and a suit or notrump denomination. The number indicates how many tricks above six the partnership promises to win.

What does 3NT mean in Bridge?

A contract of 3NT requires the declaring side to win at least nine tricks with no trump suit.

What does 4 Hearts mean in Bridge?

A contract of 4 Hearts requires the declaring side to win at least ten tricks with hearts as trump.

Who is the declarer in Bridge?

The declarer is the first player on the winning partnership who bid the suit or notrump denomination of the final contract.

What is the dummy in Bridge?

Dummy is declarer’s partner. After the opening lead, dummy places all cards face up, and declarer chooses which card is played from that hand.

Do you have to follow suit in Bridge?

Yes. A player who holds a card in the suit led must follow that suit. A player who cannot follow suit may play any card.

What is a trump suit in Bridge?

The trump suit is the suit named in the contract. A trump card wins over any non-trump card when legally played to a trick.

What is notrump in Bridge?

Notrump means the hand is played without a trump suit. Each trick is won by the highest card of the suit led.

What is a game contract in Bridge?

A game contract produces at least 100 contract-trick points. The lowest common game contracts are 3NT, 4 Hearts, 4 Spades, 5 Clubs, and 5 Diamonds.

What is the difference between Rubber and Duplicate Bridge?

Rubber Bridge carries scores and vulnerability across a series of deals. Duplicate Bridge has multiple tables play the same deals and compares results between partnerships holding the same cards.

Are bridge-size cards required to play Bridge?

No. Any standard 52-card deck can be used. Bridge-size cards are narrower and are often preferred because they are easier to hold in a 13-card hand.

Why do Bridge sets include two decks?

Two decks allow one deck to be shuffled while the other is being played. Only one deck is used in each deal.

Shop Bridge Playing Cards

Whether you are learning at home, replacing club cards, or purchasing a traditional two-deck gift set, ClassicDecks carries paper, plastic, cellulose acetate, standard-index, jumbo-index, and bridge-size playing cards.

Shop Bridge Playing Cards or read our Best Cards for Bridge Players Guide for recommendations by size, index, material, brand, and frequency of play.