Bridge is by far one of the best and an ever-increasing popular card games. After poker, it is the second most famous game in the world. This game is also called contract bridge and is mainly for 4 players. Moreover, this game can be played at any level from informal get-togethers to qualified tournaments. Furthermore, it can be divided into two main parts:
Let us first learn the play as it will provide you a better sense of what the bidding means.
Basically, bridge is a partnership game that requires four players each of which sits opposite his/her partner at a card table. This game is played with a standard bridge set of 52 playing cards. There are usually four suits explicitly diamonds, clubs, hearts and spades. In which, the more powerful to least powerful suits are graded as follows: spades, then hearts, then diamonds, and lastly the clubs. Moreover, each suit has 13 cards. The player who deals all of the cards is known as the dealer. He/she distributes 13 cards to each player in clockwise rotation, starting out with the player sitting left to him/her (dealer).
Moreover, in bridge, the deuce is the lowest card in the suit whereas the ace is the most important card, followed by kings, queens, jacks, tens, and ultimately spots cards from 9 to 2. The goal of this game is to win 7 or more tricks on every deal so as to attain points. Additionally, the technique of playing this interesting game can be further divided into three parts:
vBasic components: As bridge is a four player game, it is played in teams of two players each. Teams sit opposite to each other around a square table. Furthermore, subsequent to the deck is dealt, players formulate bids. The final bid influences the significance of each suit also in general the goal for each deal. The deals are then played card by card in 13 sub rounds that are recognized as tricks. However, deals continue until one the team accumulates a predetermined number of points. Although, the scoring system may change according to the manner of playing.
vSteps involved: Following are the essential steps involved in playing this game:
o Dealer deals out 13 cards to each player, so that the entire deck is used.
o Players are given time to arrange their cards by rank and suit.
o Teams bid numbers and suits that represent the number of tricks they believe they can win on the deal if the suit attached to that number becomes the trump suit (it is the suit of cards that will be more valuable than the other 3 suits during tricks).
o The dealer will get to bid first and bidding rotates clockwise from the dealer around the table, continuing for as many rounds as is necessary to settle on a final bid.
o Each time it’s the preference of players to build a bid or pass it
o The team, which ends up bidding the highest number, wins the right to name the trump suit.
o The person who made the winning bid is named as the declarer and his/her partner is addressed as the dummy. The other team is jointly defined as the defenders.
o After the opening lead, the declarer brings a card from the dummy’s hand. After that, the next defender plays a card and eventually the declarer plays a card.
o Once all four cards have been played, the most precious card wins the trick, and whosoever played that card holds all four cards in the trick for scoring later on.
o After playing all the 13 tricks, sum up the number of tricks each team gained. If the declaring team made the contract, they win the deal; or else, the defending team wins the deal.
vStrategy: Making an intelligent bid is the key to win this game. Practicing by playing a lot is the unsurpassed way to perk up your game. However, you must open your bid with one of your longest suits when you have 13 or more points. With 0 to 12 points, pass the bid.
Hence, this trick winning game comprises of assorted deals each building up through different phases including dealing the cards, auction or bidding, playing the hand and lastly hitting the results.
Author Bio:
Benny is a blogger and graphic designer, who is also a board game and card game fanatic. Benny has a keen interest in writing about various board games and card games including bridge set game, poker game, checkers and several other two player and multiple player games.
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