How many cards are dealt to each player?

Each player receives exactly 13 cards, meaning the full 52-card deck is distributed among the four players.

What does winning a trick mean?

A trick consists of 4 cards, one from each player. It is won by whoever plays the highest card of the led suit, or the highest trump if the suit was not followed.

What is the dummy and why are their cards exposed?

The dummy is the declarer's partner. Their cards are laid face up so the declarer can plan the play seeing both hands. The declarer plays the dummy's cards on their turn.

Can I play any card on my turn?

You must follow the suit of the card that leads the trick if you have cards of that suit. You can only play another suit (including trumps) if you have no cards of the led suit.

What happens if I don't make the contract?

If you don't reach the promised number of tricks, the points go to the defenders. They're called 'penalties' and can be significant, especially if the contract was doubled.

How to play Bridge: Complete rules and mechanics

Learn to play Bridge from scratch

Bridge is a card game played by four people forming two opposing partnerships. Each player is dealt 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck, and the goal is to win tricks working as a team with your partner.

Although the basic rules are easy to understand, Bridge offers a strategic depth that makes it one of the most challenging and rewarding board games in the world.

Basic elements of the game

4 players in partnerships

North-South vs East-West. Partners sit across from each other and work together.

52-card deck

13 cards are dealt to each player. No jokers or special cards.

Win tricks

A trick is made up of 4 cards (one per player). The highest card of the led suit or the highest trump wins.

Scoring system

Points are earned by meeting or exceeding the contract declared in the bidding.

The two phases of Bridge

Each hand of Bridge is divided into two distinct phases: the bidding and the card play. Understanding both is essential to enjoy the game.

Phase 1: The Bidding

During the bidding, the partnerships communicate information about their cards through coded declarations to determine the final contract.

Players declare in turn, indicating how many tricks they believe they can win and in which suit (or notrump).

Declarations must be progressively higher. You can pass if you don't want to declare.

You can double (multiply points) if you think your opponents won't make their contract.

The bidding ends when three players pass in succession. The last player to declare plays the contract.

Phase 2: The Card Play

Once the contract is set, the card game begins, where the declarer tries to fulfill the goal.

The player to the left of the declarer leads the first card.

The declarer's partner (the dummy) lays their cards face up on the table.

The declarer plays both hands: their own and the dummy's.

13 tricks are played. The team that wins more tricks than promised scores points.

Ready to play Bridge?

Try Bridgedom for free

Daily challenges, tournaments, competitive league, card play practice and AI analysis. Everything you need to improve your game, from any device.

Play

Suit hierarchy

The four suits have an order of importance that affects the bidding. This order is universal in Bridge:

♠

Spades

Rank 1

♥

Hearts

Rank 2

♦

Diamonds

Rank 3

♣

Clubs

Rank 4

Notrump (NT) is the highest denomination, above all suits.

Roles in the game

Declarer

The player who first named the suit (or NT) of the final contract. Plays both hands and leads the strategy.

Dummy

The declarer's partner. Lays their cards face up and doesn't actively participate in decisions.

Defenders

The opposing pair. They work together to prevent the declarer from making the contract.

Tips for beginners

Start with the basic rules

Don't worry about complex bidding systems at first. Learn how the game flows and practice the card play first.

Communicate with your partner

Bridge is a team game. Every card you play sends information to your partner. Learn to read and send signals.

Count the cards

Keeping count of the cards played is essential. Start by counting trumps and the suit that matters most to you.

How to play Bridge