Contract Bridge
Card Games · 12 specs
Direct Answer
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.
Source: World Bridge Federation (WBF) International Laws of Bridge 2017 · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Governing Body | World Bridge Federation (WBF) |
| Total Players | 4 in 2 partnerships (North-South, East-West) |
| Deck Size | 52 cards (13 dealt per player) |
| 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) |
Auction Phase & Contract Levels
Each partnership bids the number of tricks above 6 they contract to win. Bids specify a level (1 to 7) and a suit or No Trump:
- Level 1 Contract = 7 total tricks (6 + 1)
- Level 4 Major (4♥/4♠) = 10 total tricks (Game contract)
- Level 3 No Trump (3NT) = 9 total tricks (Game contract)
- Level 5 Minor (5♣/5♦) = 11 total tricks (Game contract)
- Small Slam (Level 6) = 12 total tricks
- Grand Slam (Level 7) = All 13 tricks
Card Play & The Dummy
The player who first named the contract's suit for the winning partnership becomes the Declarer. The player to Declarer's left leads the first trick. Declarer's partner ('The Dummy') then places their entire hand face-up on the table, sorted by suit, for all players to see. Declarer controls both their own cards and the Dummy's cards during play.
Scoring Table & Vulnerability
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Trick Points (Contracted tricks won): –Minor suits (♣, ♦): 20 points per trick. –Major suits (♥, ♠): 30 points per trick. –No Trump: 40 points for 1st trick, 30 points for each additional trick.
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Vulnerability: Teams become vulnerable after winning one game. Vulnerability increases bonus rewards for slams but heavily increases undertrick penalties for failing contracts.