Bridge is a trick-taking game and is a card game in which playing the trick is based on 13 rounds of play, each called tricks, which has a winner or “taker” of that trick. When all cards have been played, the number of the tricks won by each pair is counted for scoring. The winner of a trick is the one who plays the highest-ranked card of the suit led, unless another player has trumped it.
I’ve bid – how many tricks do I have to win?
Scoring
Scoring is based on the number of tricks a player or partnership has won and the value of that contract for example a No-trump contract scores more points at the same Level than a major suit contract and a major suit contract scores more points than a minor suit contract
Counting Tricks you need to make when you play a contract
The Book is a term which refers to the first six tricks that must always be won by the declaring side if they are to gain a score. The first six “book” tricks must be won and are not calculated in the scoring. A contract at the 1-level means the declarer (player) must win at least 7 tricks (that is, the book = 6 + 1) tricks. Extra points are awarded only for the extra tricks above the book.
| Bid | Level of bid | + The Book | = Tricks to Win | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 NoTrump, | or | 1♠ | or | 1♥ | or | 1♦ | or | 1♣ | 1 | + 6 tricks | =7 tricks |
| 2 NoTrump | or | 2♠ | or | 2♥ | or | 2♦ | or | 2♣ | 2 | + 6 tricks | =8 tricks |
| 3 NoTrump | or | 3♠ | or | 3♥ | or | 3♦ | or | 3♣ | 3 | + 6 tricks | =9 tricks |
| 4 NoTrump | or | 4♠ | or | 4♥ | or | 4♦ | or | 4♣ | 4 | + 6 tricks | =10 tricks |
| 5 NoTrump | or | 5♠ | or | 5♥ | or | 5♦ | or | 5♣ | 5 | + 6 tricks | =11 tricks |
| 6 NoTrump | or | 6♠ | or | 6♥ | or | 6♦ | or | 6♣ | 6 | + 6 tricks | =12 tricks |
| 7 NoTrump | or | 7♠ | or | 7♥ | or | 7♦ | or | 7♣ | 7 | + 6 tricks | =13 tricks |
Tomorrow’s Lesson:
High Card Points Lesson and Practice Game
