How to play Bridge

Contract bridge is played by four people in two partnerships. You sit South, across from your partner Helen (North), and play against Arthur (West) and Ruth (East). Each deal has two parts: the bidding, where the sides compete to name a contract, and the play, where the side that won the bidding tries to take as many tricks as it promised.

Bidding

• Everyone gets 13 cards. The dealer bids first, then the bidding goes around to the left.
• A bid is a level and a suit, such as 2♥. The level is how many tricks over six you promise: 2♥ means eight tricks with hearts as trumps.
• Each bid must be higher than the one before. Clubs are lowest, then diamonds, hearts, spades and notrump (NT). You may also Pass, Double an opponent's bid, or Redouble after they double yours.
• Three passes in a row end the bidding. The last bid is the contract. If all four pass at the start, the cards are dealt again.
• Tap a level, then a suit, then tap Bid. The box tells you what your bid would say to your partner, and you can tap any call in the bidding table to see what it meant.

The system the computers use

• Count your points: Ace 4, King 3, Queen 2, Jack 1. Open the bidding with 12 or more.
• Open 1♥ or 1♠ with five or more cards in the suit. Otherwise open your longer minor, 1♣ or 1♦.
• 1NT shows a balanced hand with 15 to 17 points, 2NT shows 20 to 21, and 2♣ shows 22 or more.
• After 1NT, 2♣ asks for a four-card major (Stayman), and 2♦ or 2♥ shows five or more of the next suit up (a transfer).
• 4NT asks partner how many aces they hold, on the way to a slam.
• This is Standard American, the style taught in most bridge classes in the United States. Tap Hint whenever you want a suggestion.

Playing the cards

• The player who first bid the contract's suit for the winning side is the declarer. The player on the declarer's left leads the first card.
• Then the declarer's partner lays all their cards face up: the dummy. The declarer plays both hands.
• You must follow suit if you can. If you cannot, you may play a trump and win the trick, or throw any other card.
• When your side wins the bidding, you always play the cards, even when Helen is the declarer. You play your hand and hers.

Scoring (Chicago)

• A game is four deals. Nobody is vulnerable on the first deal, the dealer's side on the second and third, and both sides on the fourth. A red edge marks a vulnerable side.
• Each trick you bid over six earns 20 in clubs and diamonds, 30 in hearts and spades, and 40 for the first and 30 for the rest in notrump.
• A contract worth 100 or more is a game: a bonus of 300, or 500 when vulnerable. Smaller contracts earn 50.
• A small slam (12 tricks) adds 500 or 750, and a grand slam (all 13) adds 1000 or 1500.
• If the declarer falls short, the defenders score 50 for each missing trick, or 100 when the declarer is vulnerable. Doubles make it all count more.

Tips

1. Look for a fit. Eight or more cards in a suit between you and your partner make a good trump suit.
2. Count to 25. With about 25 points between you, bid game. With about 33, think about a slam.
3. Draw trumps. As declarer, lead trumps early so the opponents cannot ruff your winners.
4. Lead toward honors. Play from a low card toward the king or queen in the other hand.
5. Lead partner's suit. On defense, when your partner bid a suit, it is usually the best opening lead.

Today's deal

The Daily Deal is one deal with the same cards and the same computer players for everyone, as in a duplicate club game. Bid, play, and see how your side's score compares with everyone else today. Your first try of the day is the one that counts.

Questions

Can I play with friends? Yes. Choose "Play with friends" and send the link, or read out the four-letter table code. Sit across from a friend as partners, or against each other. Everyone plays on their own phone or computer, and the computer fills empty seats.

I have never played bridge. Where do I start? Try the lesson: one real deal where we show you how to count points, bid to a contract and play the dummy.

How strong are the computer players? Easy counts loosely and makes beginner mistakes. Normal and Sharp bid with the system above and think ahead by imagining where the unseen cards could be; Sharp imagines more possibilities and uses what the bidding told it.

Do I need an account? No. Your game is saved in this browser, so you can close the page and come back.