Contract Bridge vs. Hearts
Comparing 2 standards across 19 specifications. 17 key differences identified.
Contract Bridge is a trick-taking card game for four players in two fixed partnerships, governed internationally by the World Bridge Federation (WBF). Play consists of an auction bidding phase to determine the contract (trump suit and number of tricks required above 6) followed by card play, scored using vulnerability and penalty multipliers.
Hearts is an evasion-style trick-taking card game for 4 individual players where the objective is to avoid scoring penalty points. Each Heart card taken in tricks counts as 1 penalty point, and the Queen of Spades counts as 13 penalty points. If a single player takes all 26 penalty points in one hand ('Shoots the Moon'), all opponents receive 26 points instead.
Specification Comparison Table
19 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Total Players
|
4 in 2 partnerships (North-South, East-West) | 4 individual play |
|
Deck Size
|
52 cards (13 dealt per player) | 52 cards (13 dealt per player) |
|
Governing Body
|
World Bridge Federation (WBF) | — |
|
Base Book Tricks
|
6 tricks (contract level adds to 6) | — |
|
Total Tricks Available
|
13 tricks | — |
|
Suit Hierarchy (Low to High)
|
Clubs (♣), Diamonds (♦), Hearts (♥), Spades (♠), No Trump (NT) | — |
|
Major Suits
|
Hearts (♥), Spades (♠) 30 pts per trick | — |
|
Minor Suits
|
Clubs (♣), Diamonds (♦) 20 pts per trick | — |
|
No Trump 1st Trick Value
|
40 points (30 pts subsequent) | — |
|
Game Threshold
|
100 trick points in one deal | — |
|
Small Slam Level
|
12 tricks (Level 6 Contract) | — |
|
Grand Slam Level
|
13 tricks (Level 7 Contract) | — |
|
Hearts Penalty Value
|
— | 1 point per Heart card (13 total) |
|
Queen of Spades Value
|
— | 13 penalty points (Black Maria) |
|
Total Points Per Hand
|
— | 26 penalty points |
|
Shooting the Moon Bonus
|
— | 0 pts (or -26) to shooter, +26 to all opponents |
|
Game Ending Threshold
|
— | 100 points (lowest score wins) |
|
Passing Rotation (4 Rounds)
|
— | Left -> Right -> Across -> No Passing |
|
Opening Lead Card
|
— | 2 of Clubs (2♣) mandatory first lead |