Contract bridge
Contract bridge is a trick-taking card game played by four players in two competing partnerships using a standard 52-card deck. It is distinguished by an auction phase where partners bid to establish a contract, followed by play to fulfill it.
AT A GLANCE
- ERA
- Modern (1920s)
- ORIGIN
- United States
- PLAYERS
- 4 (2 partnerships)
- EQUIPMENT
- 52-card deck, board
- PLAYING AREA
- Card table
- DURATION
- Varies (15–90 min)
- GOVERNING BODY
- WBF
- OLYMPIC
- No
Contract trick points
| Contract level | Points |
|---|---|
| Minor trick (♣, ♦) | 20 per trick over 6 |
| Major trick (♠, ♥) | 30 per trick over 6 |
| No-trump first trick | 40 points |
| No-trump subsequent | 30 per trick |
| Game bonus | 300 or 500 points |
| Small slam (12 tricks) | 500 or 750 points |
| Grand slam (13 tricks) | 1000 or 1500 points |
| Undertrick penalty | 50+ points per trick short |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1886 | Earliest rules for Biritch (Russian whist) printed |
| 1904 | Auction bridge develops from bridge-whist |
| 1925 | Harold Vanderbilt devises contract bridge scoring |
| 1928 | American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) formed |
| 1935 | First official World Contract Bridge Championship |
| 1958 | World Bridge Federation (WBF) established |
How a game works
Each hand consists of a bidding auction to establish a contract, followed by trick play. The winning bidder becomes declarer, and their partner becomes dummy, laying their cards face up. Declarer tries to win enough tricks to fulfill the contract, while defenders try to prevent it.
Scoring in one line
Teams earn points by making contracted tricks and bonuses for game or slam targets, while failing to make a contract awards penalty points to the defenders.
Where it came from
Bridge evolved from 17th-century whist and early 20th-century auction bridge. In 1925, Harold Vanderbilt developed contract scoring while on a cruise ship, requiring players to bid for tricks to score them, which quickly replaced older variants.
Contract bridge today
Governed by the World Bridge Federation, contract bridge is played worldwide in clubs, duplicate tournaments, and online. In duplicate bridge, players play identical hands to eliminate card luck and purely test skill.
Run a Contract bridge tournament
Brackets, fixtures and standings in your browser — 15–90 min.
FAQ
Is bridge an Olympic sport?
No, contract bridge is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a mind sport but is not included in the Olympic Games program.
What is duplicate bridge?
Duplicate bridge is a tournament format where identical deals are played at multiple tables, ensuring final scores depend on player performance rather than luck of the deal.
How many players play bridge?
Bridge requires exactly four players, competing as two partnerships sitting opposite each other.