PLAYING CONTRACT BRIDGE: A BASIC INTRODUCTION FOR BEGINNERS
Millions of people play this card game in clubs, at home, at casinos, and even online. Regular tournaments take place all across the globe. The elderly love this game but people of all ages enjoy it. Contract Bridge, or more known as Bridge, seems to date back as far as the 16th century. The game developed and evolved throughout the years to become what it is today.
Different types
There are several variations of Contract Bridge. Two of the most popular are Rubber Bridge and Duplicate Bridge. The basic rules for these types are almost the same. The biggest difference is the goal of the game. Duplicate Bridge aims to remove the element of luck existing in the game.
Rubber Bridge
It is a variation played in informal social games and most clubs.
Duplicate Bridge
This one is often seen in clubs and is the most common choice for tournaments and formal matches.
Basic rules
Four players in two fixed partnerships take part in a standard game of Rubber Bridge. The reference of players according to their position is already a tradition. The main compass points are the basis. The players are North, South, East, and West. North and South are partners while East and West are also partners.
The deal
The game uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards. The dealer shuffles the card and another player cuts it before the deal. Players take turns becoming the dealer in a clockwise order. The player to the right of the dealer cuts the cards after shuffling.
Two decks of cards are usually used. It is possible to shuffle one deck while the deal is taking place. This saves time between hands.
Each player gets one card at a time until they all get 13 cards each. The bidding starts once the deal is complete.
The bidding
A bidding auction determines several things. One is which partnership will try to win the specified number of tricks in the upcoming hand. Another is the number of tricks. Which suit will be Trump also depends on the bidding auction. An auction starts with the dealer and passes clockwise. A bid should be higher than a previous bid or the player must pass. Three passes in a row will make the last bid the contract.
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