An introduction to the version named above. Special cases and local rules may differ. Agree on your rules before the first hand.
GAME PHASE 01
The framework
Four players, two teams
Bridge uses the full 52-card deck. Four players sit in fixed partnerships: North–South against East–West, partners facing each other. Each player receives 13 cards.
Two phases
Every deal has two parts: first the auction (bidding), where the partnerships compete for the contract, then the play, where that contract must be fulfilled trick by trick.
The map, not the journey
Bridge is called the queen of card games for a reason: people study it for decades. This round gives you the map. The full journey comes with playing.
GAME PHASE 02
The auction
Level plus strain
A bid names a level (1 to 7) and a strain: a trump suit or NT (no trump). '1♥' or '3NT' are bids. Each bid promises to take the level plus 6 tricks, so 3NT promises 9 of the 13 tricks.
The bidding ladder
Bids must always rise. Within one level the strains rank ♣ < ♦ < ♥ < ♠ < NT. So 1♠ beats 1♥, and after 1NT the next suit bid must start at level 2.
Pass, and the contract
If you do not want to bid, say 'pass'. When a bid is followed by three passes, the auction ends: the highest bid becomes the contract that its side must now fulfil.
GAME PHASE 03
Declarer & dummy
Who plays the contract?
The side that won the auction plays the contract. The player of that side who first named the final strain becomes declarer; their partner becomes the dummy.
The open hand
Declarer chooses the cards from both hands. Dummy reveals their hand after the opening lead, then plays the cards declarer requests.
An open book
Everyone sees the dummy, so declarer and defenders alike plan around it. Declarer coordinates 26 known cards; the defenders infer the rest.
GAME PHASE 04
The play
Strict follow-suit
Bridge enforces following suit rigorously: if you hold a card of the led suit, you must play one. Only when you are void may you trump or discard.
Winning a trick
The highest card of the led suit wins the trick, unless a trump appears: trumps beat everything. The trick winner leads to the next trick.
13 tricks per deal
With 13 cards each there are exactly 13 tricks in every deal. Declarer tries to reach the promised number; the defenders try to hold them below it.
GAME PHASE 05
Made or down
Did the contract make?
Count declarer's tricks at the end. A contract of 3♥ means hearts are trump and 9 tricks (3 + 6) are needed. Reach them and the contract is made, and the declaring side scores.
Going down
Take fewer tricks than promised and you are 'down': the defenders collect penalty points for every missing trick. Bold contracts pay well but crash hard.
FROM READING TO UNDERSTANDING
Try it again.
With cards on the table.
The iPhone app walks you through sample rounds at your own pace. All eleven games and every lesson are free. You can also play Mau-Mau against computer opponents.
Explore Kartenschule ↗Coming soon to the App Store. In English and German.Publisher: Sebastian Kurock. Updated October 2, 2026. Based on Kartenschule’s own lessons. American Contract Bridge League