The Bridge Centre/Reference
At the Bridge Table
Beginner bridge · table card

At the Bridge Table

Who bids, who wins the contract, who leads, and when dummy goes down. Everything is shown from North's point of view, with North at the top of the table.

Who sits where

NNorth
WWest
EEast
SSouth

North & South are partners. East & West are partners. Your partner always sits opposite you.

Try it: who won the contract?
  • Declarer
  • Dummy
  • Opening lead
  • Defenders

The pattern never changes: dummy is declarer's partner, and the player on declarer's left makes the opening lead.

What happens, in order

  1. Deal

    The dealer deals one card at a time, clockwise, starting with the player on their left. 13 cards each.

  2. Count & sort

    Count your cards face down on the table: 13. Then pick them up, sort them by suit and hold them so only you can see them.

  3. Auction

    The dealer bids first. Then each player in turn, clockwise. Every player gets a turn, even if they just pass.

  4. Auction ends

    After a bid, three passes in a row end it. The last bid is the contract. Declarer is the player on that side who first named that suit (or NT), so it isn't always the last bidder.

  5. Opening lead

    The player on declarer's left leads the first card, face down. Their partner asks "any questions?", then it is turned up.

  6. Dummy goes down

    Only after the opening lead. Declarer's partner lays all 13 cards face up and takes no further part.

  7. Play 13 tricks

    Declarer plays from both hands. Clockwise. Whoever wins a trick leads to the next one.

  8. Agree the score

    Count the tricks together. Declarer's side needs 6 + the level bid.

The auction

Each bid must be higher than the last

♣︎Clubs
›
♦︎Diamonds
›
♥︎Hearts
›
♠︎Spades
›
NTNo trumps

Lowest bid is 1♣︎, highest is 7NT. After 1♠︎ you can bid 1NT; after 1NT you must go to the 2 level.

What the number means

The first 6 tricks are "free" (called book). The number is how many tricks over 6 you promise.

Bid1234567
Tricks78910111213

Your choices on your turn

  • Bid a level and a suit (or NT) higher than the last bid.
  • Pass (the green card). You can still bid on a later turn.
  • Double an opponent's bid, or Redouble when yours is doubled.

If all four players pass straight away, the hand is thrown in.

Example: North deals

NESW
1♥︎Pass2♥︎Pass
4♥︎PassPassPass
  • Three passes after 4♥︎, so the contract is 4♥︎: 10 tricks, hearts are trumps.
  • North bid hearts first, so North is declarer.
  • South is dummy. East (North's left) leads.

Who becomes declarer?

Not always the player who made the last bid. Declarer is the player on the winning side who first named the trump suit (or NT).

NESW
1♣︎Pass1♥︎Pass
2♥︎Pass4♥︎Pass
PassPass

South said hearts first, so South is declarer, North is dummy and West leads.

The play

Dummy's hand

  • Goes down after the opening lead is face up, never before.
  • Laid out in columns by suit, high cards nearest dummy, facing declarer.
  • Trumps go on dummy's right (declarer's left).
  • Declarer names each card to play from dummy. Dummy only moves the card.

Each trick

  • Play goes clockwise, one card each.
  • Follow suit if you can. If you can't, you may trump or throw any card.
  • Highest card of the suit led wins, unless someone trumps. Highest trump wins.
  • The winner of the trick leads next. When dummy wins, declarer leads from dummy.

Keeping your cards

Each player keeps their own cards in front of them, face down, in a neat row.

Upright
= we won
Sideways
= they won

Don't gather tricks into the middle. The cards go back in the board at the end.

Do and don't

✓ Do

  • Count your cards before you look at them.
  • Wait for your turn. Bidding and play both go clockwise.
  • Leave your bidding cards on the table until the auction ends, so everyone can review it.
  • Lead face down first, then turn it over.
  • Follow suit whenever you can.
  • As dummy, warn partner if they are about to lead from the wrong hand.
  • As dummy, you may ask "no hearts, partner?" when declarer doesn't follow suit.
  • Keep a steady pace. Take the same time over easy and hard decisions.

✕ Don't

  • Don't bid or play out of turn.
  • Don't lay dummy down before the opening lead.
  • Don't lead if you aren't on declarer's left.
  • Don't, as dummy, suggest a card, touch dummy's cards unasked, or look at other hands.
  • Don't show feelings about your hand: no sighs, smiles or comments.
  • Don't say anything while bidding except your bid. Use the bidding box.
  • Don't detach a card from your hand until it's your turn to play it.
  • Don't mix your played cards with anyone else's.

Numbers to know

High card pointsA 4 · K 3 · Q 2 · J 140 in the pack
Open the bidding12+ pointsMajors (♥︎ ♠︎) need 5 cards
Game contracts3NT · 4♥︎ · 4♠︎ · 5♣︎ · 5♦︎About 25 points between partners
Tricks you need6 + your level4♥︎ needs 10 tricks