Contract Bridge

Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking card game played with a standard 52-card deck by four players in two competing partnerships, partners seated opposite each other. A deal moves through four phases: the cards are dealt, the players bid in an auction to win the contract that sets how many tricks the declaring partnership must take, the cards are played as the declaring side tries to fulfill the contract while the defenders try to stop it, and the deal is scored on the tricks taken and the contract won. During the auction, partners may exchange information about their hands, including strength and suit distribution, only through their bids, never by any other means. Rubber bridge is the most popular form for casual play, while most club and tournament play uses some form of duplicate bridge, in which the same deal is played at multiple tables for comparative scoring rather than being redealt each time.