How to Play Bridge

The basics of Bridge

Bridge is a popular card game played with a deck of 52 cards. The jokers are eliminated and four suits each of 13 cards is formed of clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades. Among these, the ace is the highest card and deuce is the lowest. Bridge is played between four players seated at a square table, with the opposite players creating a partnership that aims to win the maximum possible tricks.

Starting the game of Bridge

At first a person must be selected as the dealer who would deal the cards in facedown position and clockwise rotation. The game starts when each player has received 13 cards. After every deal, each of the players becomes the dealer by turn in a clockwise pattern.

The game starts when one player leads a card by putting it face up on the table. Every player has to repeat the process in a clockwise rotation and maintain the same suit. If the lead is of heart, every player must try to play in heart and if he does not have hearts, then the suit may be discarded by playing a card of a different suit.

What is a Trick?

A trick is made up by four cards given forth by each player. The player who plays the highest card in the suit wins the trick. A trick can also be taken using a trump suit. This technique is used when a player fails to follow suit and uses the trump as the highest and strongest card than the other cards. This gives way to no-trump.

Process of bidding

In Bridge, bidding is required to decide whether the deal would be played in a particular trump suit or in no-trump. The dealer gets the first chance to bid on the basis of the high cards he has in hand and the length of the suit. If he lacks many high cards, he passes the bid. This passing or bidding continues with each partner until three successive players say ‘pass’.

Role of declarer, dummy and opening leader

The player who first mentions the no-trump or the suit that goes on to become the trump is the declarer. The player sitting to the left of the declarer who makes the opening lead is the opening leader. The declarer’s partner is the Dummy. His role is to place his hand face up on the table after the opening lead is made.