Bridge Rules

Bridge uses a standard 52-card deck with no jokers. Four players sit in two partnerships: South and North against West and East. The entire deck is dealt, so each player starts with 13 cards.

Players bid a level and strain, or pass. The level runs from 1 to 7. The strains rank clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades, and notrump. A new bid must outrank the current highest bid, and three passes after a bid end the auction.

The final bid becomes the contract. A contract of 3NT means the declaring side must win nine tricks: six book tricks plus the level of three. A contract of 4 spades requires ten tricks with spades as trump.

The side that wins the auction becomes the declaring side. The declarer plays the contract and the partner is dummy. Traditional Bridge places dummy face up after the opening lead, giving declarer a full partnership plan.

The player after declarer leads the first trick. Each player must follow the led suit if possible. If a player cannot follow suit, they may play any card. In a suit contract, trump cards beat non-trump cards. In notrump, there is no trump suit.

If declarer makes the contract, the declaring side scores trick points for the contract and any overtricks. If declarer falls short, the defenders score for the undertricks. This online version uses streamlined hand scoring without doubles or vulnerability.

Do not bid only by counting high cards. Shape, suit length, entries, and partnership fit matter. During play, count sure winners, keep track of suits that opponents cannot follow, and avoid spending trump before it wins something useful.