Bridge Game Overview
Welcome to 60SecondBridge!
This overview will introduce you to the basics of Bridge.
While Bridge is a complex and fascinating game, our lessons are designed to be short and precise, making it easy for you to learn step-by-step.
Don’t worry if it feels overwhelming at first – we’ll cover each part in detail in future lessons, helping you build your skills one step at a time.
Watch a video of a typical Bridge game - *Audio - turn your sound on
Partners and Players
Bridge is played by four players in two partnerships:
- North-South are partners.
- East-West are partners.
Partners sit opposite each other at the table. The game begins with the entire deck shuffled and dealt, giving each player 13 cards. The player dealing the cards is called the Dealer and starts the biddingThis term is also called the ‘auction.’ In each online deal, a player is the nominated as the dealer -this title rotates each new game. The dealer is the player who starts the bidding even if its a pass. Players take their turn at bidding in turn and in order … process.
How to Bid your hand
The bidding phase is an auction where each player gets to estimate how many rounds they think they and their partner can win. The bidding rules for the auction are quite detailed but playing online here, you will have hints available to help you. When playing at a Bridge club, beginners can often use a ‘cheat sheet’ called a ‘Flipper’.
Playing your hand
After the auction phase is complete, the game moves into the “play” phase. During this phase, players play their cards one at a time in a clockwise direction, similar to card games like Euchre or 500. The player who won the auction leads the first trick, and each player, in turn, must follow suit if possible. If a player cannot follow suit, they may play any card, including a trumpA suit of cards with the highest ranking over the other suits in a particular hand
Noun usage – A card in the trump suit whose trick-taking power is greater than any other suit card.
Verb usage – To play a trump after a plain suit has been led or otherwi… if there is one.
The goal during the play phase is for the partnership that won the auction to meet or exceed the number of tricksA round of 4 cards where each player contributes 1 card. There are 13 tricks in a game of bridge. they bid during the auction. If they succeed, they score points, while the opposing partnership loses points. If they fail to reach their target, they lose points, and the opposing partnership gains points. This interplay makes the play phase a strategic challenge, as each partnership tries to either fulfill their bid or prevent their opponents from achieving theirs.
Who Wins?
The goal during the play phase is for the partnership that won the auction to meet or exceed the number of tricks they bid during the auction. If they succeed, they score points, while the opposing partnership loses points. If they fail to reach their target, they lose points, and the opposing partnership gains points. This interplay makes the play phase a strategic challenge, as each partnership tries to either fulfill their bid or prevent their opponents from achieving theirs.
Our next lesson goes into more detail about how to get started quickly and easily. But first try our mini instant quiz below. There is a quiz like this at the end of most lessons and it aims to give you instant feedback.
Below the quiz is a link to a Bridge game you can play. If you have already played cards games like Euchre, 500 or Whist, then you will find the play portion of the Bridge game familiar (follow suit if you can etc.). The bidding process in Bridge however, is quite different, so at this stage we recommend using the bidding hints (click the “?” on the bidding pad) to see what bid you should make when it is your turn. You will also find a guide to the bidding below the game.
Just a reminder, if it seems overwhelming at first (it is for most beginners), just relax, take your time, and explore. There is no time pressure and as you work your way through the lessons it should all start to come together nicely.
Instant Progress Quiz - Select the correct answer
Play Your First Game of Bridge
Click the ‘Play’ button below to play your first Bridge game. You will find instructions below the game. Don’t be too concerned if you don’t understand all that is happening. It will all become clearer as you progress through the lessons.
Responses
You must be logged in to post a comment.
The lesson suggests that S bid 1D in response to 1C opening bid. With 10 HCP’s and a 4-card major, why not bid 1S?
You need a 5-card major.
You should bid the lower 4-card first.
only as responder, or in Acol
this is covered in more in the bidding lessons. Opener in Standard American needs a 5 card suit an so in this hand opener needs 5 spades to open and bids in descending order of suit rank. Responder can respond with a 4 card major suit but needs to bid in ascending order (all covered in detail in the bidding lessons)
responder doesn’t opener does in Standard American. In Acol you can open with four card Major suits also covered in detail in the bidding lessons
As a responder you bid in ascending order (lower ranking first). This will be covered in later lessons.