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Official Contract Bridge Rules
Contract Bridge is a trick-taking game played by four players in two partnerships. Partners sit opposite each other. The objective is to accurately bid the number of tricks a partnership will take and then fulfill that contract. Here's how to play:
Objective
To collaborate with your partner to fulfill a contract by winning a specific number of tricks.
Setup
The Deck
A standard 52-card deck is used. Cards are ranked from highest to lowest: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The suits are of equal rank.
Deal
The dealer shuffles and deals 13 cards to each player. The deal rotates clockwise after each hand.
Gameplay
The Bidding
Auction Phase: Players bid in clockwise order. A bid specifies a number of tricks (6-13) and a suit (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs) or no trump.
Bids: The minimum bid is 1, and the maximum bid is 7. For example, a bid of "1 heart" means the partnership aims to take 7 tricks (6+1) with hearts as trump.
No Trump: A bid of "1 no trump" means the partnership aims to take 7 tricks without a trump suit.
Higher Bids: Each subsequent bid must be higher than the previous bid. The highest bid wins the auction.
Doubling and Redoubling: Players can double an opponent's bid or redouble a double.
Double: Indicates that the player believes the opponents will not make their contract.
Redouble: Indicates that the doubler's opponents believe they will make their contract despite the double.
The Play
Declarer: The player who first bid the winning suit or no trump becomes the declarer.
Opening Lead: The player to the left of the declarer makes the first lead.
Dummy: Declarer's partner places their hand face-up on the table. Declarer plays both their own hand and the dummy hand.
Following Suit: Players must follow the suit led if possible. If unable to follow suit, a player may play any card.
Winning a Trick: The highest card of the led suit wins the trick, unless a trump is played, in which case the highest trump wins. The winner of each trick leads to the next trick.
Scoring
Contract Fulfillment: If the declarer makes the contract, the partnership scores points based on the bid:
Major suits (spades, hearts): 30 points per trick above six.
Minor suits (diamonds, clubs): 20 points per trick above six.
No Trump: 40 points for the first trick above six, 30 points for each subsequent trick.
Bonus Points:
Game Bonus: 300 points if the contract bid is 3 NT, 4H, 4S, 5C, or 5D.
Small Slam: 500 points for bidding and making 12 tricks.
Grand Slam: 1000 points for bidding and making 13 tricks.
Undertricks: If the declarer fails to make the contract, the opponents score points for each undertrick.
Non-doubled: 50 points per undertrick.
Doubled: 100 points per undertrick (first), 200 points per subsequent undertrick.
Redoubled: 200 points per undertrick (first), 400 points per subsequent undertrick.
Doubled and Redoubled Contracts:
Made Contracts: Additional points for making doubled or redoubled contracts.
Overtricks: Extra points for each trick above the contract (50 points non-doubled, 100 points doubled, 200 points redoubled).
Winning the Game
A game is typically played to a set number of points, often 100. Alternatively, a match can consist of a predetermined number of deals.
Key Elements
Bidding: Strategic bidding based on hand evaluation.
Partnership: Effective communication and collaboration with your partner.
Card Play: Mastering the art of playing cards to win tricks.
Defense: Preventing the declaring side from fulfilling the contract.
Scoring: Understanding the complex scoring system.
Contract Bridge is a game that requires years of practice to master. It involves a deep understanding of bidding conventions, card play techniques, and partnership communication.
