Official bridge card game rules

When game is 5 points, each side uses a three-spot and a four-spot as markers. To indicate a score of 1, the four is placed face down on the three, with one pip left exposed.

For a score of 2, the three is placed face down on the four, with two pips left exposed. For a score of 3, the three is placed face up on the four. For a score of 4, the four is placed face up on the three.

Many Euchre games are scored by rubber points, as in Whist. The first side to win two games wins the rubber. Each game counts for the side winning; 3 rubber points if the losers' score in that game was 0 or fewer, 2 rubber points if the losers' score was 1 or 2, and 1 rubber point if the losers scored 3 or more.

The winners' margin in the rubber is 2 points bonus, plus the winners' rubber points, minus the losers' rubber points. From the shuffled pack spread face down, the players draw cards for partners and first deal. The two players with the two lowest cards play against the two players with the two highest cards. The player with the lowest card deals first. For drawing, the cards rank: K high , Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, A. Players drawing equal cards must draw again.

Partners sit opposite each other. The dealer has the right to shuffle last. The pack is cut by the player to the dealer's right.

The cut must not leave less than four cards in each packet. The cards are dealt clockwise, to the left, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer. Each player receives five cards. The dealer may give a round of three at a time, then a round of two at a time, or may give two, then three; but the dealer must adhere to whichever distribution plan he begins with.

After the first deal, the deal passes to the player on the dealer's left. On completing the deal, the dealer places the rest of the pack in the center of the table and turns the top card face up. Should the card turned up be accepted as trump by any player, the dealer has the right to exchange the turned up card for another card in their hand. In practice, the dealer does not take the turned up card into their hand, but leaves it on the pack until it is played; the dealer signifies this exchange by placing their discard face down underneath the pack.

Beginning with the player to the left of the dealer, each player passes or accepts the turn-up as trump.

An opponent of the dealer accepts by saying "I order it up. The dealer signifies refusal of the turn-up by removing the card from the top and placing it face up partially underneath the pack; this is called "turning it down.

If all four players pass in the first round, each player in turn, starting with the player to the dealer's left, has the option of passing again or of naming the trump suit. The rejected suit may not be named.

Declaring the other suit of the same color as the reject is called "making it next"; declaring a suit of opposite color is called "crossing it. If all four players pass in the second round, the cards are gathered and shuffled, and the next dealer deals.

Once the trump is fixed, either by acceptance of the turn-up or by the naming of another suit, the turn-up is rejected, the bidding ends and play begins. If the player who fixes the trump suit believes it will be to their side's advantage to play without the help of their partner's cards, the player exercises this option by declaring "alone" distinctly at the time of making the trump. This player's partner then turns their cards face down and does not participate in the play.

The opening lead is made by the player to the dealer's left, or if this player's partner is playing alone, it is made by the player across from the dealer. If possible, each player must follow suit to a lead. If unable to follow suit, the player may trump or discard any card. A trick is won by the highest card of the suit led, or, if it contains trumps, by the highest trump.

The winner of a trick leads next. Classic Euchre like Bridge is exclusively a 4-person proposition. Hi Dennis, this is possible and is referred to as "Defending Alone. Can a person with 4 aces and a king after the dealer turns down the trump card suit call No Trump for trump? Thus making the high card of any the suit played the winner of that trick.

The rules only say you cannot call the turned down suit trump. So if there is no trump then all jacks are just jacks in suit order and ace is high. Hi Dennis, this is possible with explicit house rules.

For standard Euchre, a trump suit must be determined before trick-playing commences. Hi Keith, such a variation would fall under house rules, but in a standard game, each player must play the hands they are dealt.

You can learn more in the Wikipedia article "Euchre Variations". Question: Is it true that you cannot make a suit trump unless you have at least one card of that suit in your hand? But no, during the second round of bidding, you are free to name as trump whatever suit you like. Hello, Thanks for your question. Object of the Game Each of the partnerships tries to score points by taking any trick in excess of six.

The Play The turn to play is in clockwise rotation. How to Keep Score Each odd trick a trick in excess of six counts one point for the side winning it. Log in to Reply. The Bicycle Team April 3, at pm. Add Comment Cancel reply. Cinch Playing this fun and engaging game is quite the cinch when you know the rules.

Bridge Live and learn Bridge, a classic game of strategy featuring two teams of two and countless bids. Isn't it time you learned how to play? Learn New Shuffling Tips and Techniques Shuffle like the pros by mastering these simple rules and techniques. Ship, Captain, and Crew. Going to Boston. Left, Center, Right. Kings Corner. Page One. Texas Hold'em Poker. Hand and Foot. Gin Rummy. Master Card The highest-ranking current card in play. Ruffing Winning a trick in a non-led suit.

Singleton One card in a suit, as opposed to doubleton. Underlead To lead with a lower card when you have a higher-ranking option. Bridge is played by two-player partnerships or teams. The game is played clockwise. One player takes the role of Declarer, while the other takes the role of Dummy. The Dummy has to place their cards face up after the first card has been placed.

Each player receives 13 cards. A game of bridge takes place in 3 different stages: Bidding, Play and Scoring. Bidding and Tricks Tricks and bidding are some of the most vital bridge concepts. A bid of two hearts means you expect to win eight tricks with Hearts as the trump suit.

A bid of five spades means you expect to win eleven tricks with Spades as the trump suit. Suit Distribution means which suits you have the most or least cards in. Aces are worth 4. Kings are worth 3.