Contract bridge is a popular card game that consists of two teams of two players each. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and the objective is to win the most number of tricks during each hand. However, keeping score in contract bridge can be challenging for new players. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of how to keep score in contract bridge.

Scoring in Contract Bridge

In contract bridge, the scoring is based on the number of tricks each team wins during a hand. A trick is a set of four cards played one per player in a clockwise order. The team that wins the most number of tricks is awarded points based on the contract they have bid and fulfilled.

Bidding in Contract Bridge

Before the game starts, each team bids to determine the contract they will play. The bidding process allows each team to communicate with their partner about the number of tricks they believe they can win with their current hand. The highest bidder sets the contract, and both teams work towards fulfilling it.

Scoring in Contract Bridge – Part 1

The first part of scoring in contract bridge is to determine the number of tricks that the team has won based on the contract they have bid and fulfilled. If the team fulfills the contract, they are awarded points based on the level of the contract. For example, if the team bid and fulfilled a contract of 2 spades, they would receive 20 points. If the team bid and fulfilled a contract of 5 spades, they would receive 50 points.

If the team does not fulfill the contract, they are penalized points based on the level of the contract that they bid. For example, if the team bid a contract of 5 spades but only won 4 tricks, they would be penalized 50 points.

Scoring in Contract Bridge – Part 2

The second part of scoring in contract bridge is to determine whether the team has made any bonuses. There are two types of bonuses in contract bridge: the game bonus and the slam bonus.

The game bonus is awarded to a team that fulfills a contract of 3 no-trumps or higher. If the team wins the game bonus, they are awarded an additional 300 points.

The slam bonus is awarded to a team that fulfills a contract of 6 or 7 no-trumps. If the team wins the slam bonus, they are awarded an additional 500 or 1000 points, respectively.

Scoring in Contract Bridge – Part 3

The third part of scoring in contract bridge is to determine whether there are any penalties. Penalties are awarded to a team if they make an illegal bid or violate a bridge rule. If a team is penalized, they lose points based on the severity of the penalty.

Conclusion

Keeping score in contract bridge is an essential skill for all players to learn. To summarize, the scoring in contract bridge is based on the number of tricks each team wins, the contracts they bid and fulfill, the bonuses they achieve, and any penalties they receive. Understanding these rules will help you keep track of your score and increase your chances of winning the game. Happy playing!