Report this Page
003

Tricks To Win Your Contract

Bridge is a trick-taking game and is a card game in which playing the trick is based on 13 rounds of play, each called tricks, which has a winner or "taker" of that trick. When all cards have been played, the number of the tricks won by each pair is counted for scoring. The winner of a trick is the one who plays the highest-ranked card of the suit led, unless another player has trumped it.

Counting Tricks you need to make when you play a contract

The Book is a term which means that a total of six tricks in any order from the thirteen tricks in a game. These tricks need to be won by the declaring side before any extra tricks can be used to calculate a score. A contract at the 1-level means the declarer (player) must win at least 7 tricks (that is, the book = 6 + 1 extra) tricks. Extra points are awarded only for the extra tricks above the book.

Bid Bid+The Book=Tricks to Win
1 NoTrump or 1 or 1 or 1 or 1 1 + 6 tricks = 7 tricks
2 NoTrump or 2 or 2 or 2 or 2 2 + 6 tricks = 8 tricks
3 NoTrump or 3 or 3 or 3 or 3 3 + 6 tricks = 9 tricks
4 NoTrump or 4 or 4 or 4 or 4 4 + 6 tricks = 10 tricks
5 NoTrump or 5 or 5 or 5 or 5 5 + 6 tricks = 11 tricks
6 NoTrump or 6 or 6 or 6 or 6 6 + 6 tricks = 12 tricks
7 NoTrump or 7 or 7 or 7 or 7 7 + 6 tricks = 13 tricks

Scoring

Scoring is based on the number of tricks a player or partnership has won and the value of that contract for example a No-trump contract scores more points at the same Level than a major suit contract and a major suit (Spades and Hearts - Lesson 011) contract scores more points than a minor suit (Diamonds and Clubs - Lesson 012) contract.   The scoring is different depending on whether you won, or didn't win, the number of tricks your bid promised. See our Bridge Scoring Table (for when you have achieved your contract) and our Undertrick Bridge Score Table for when you did not. Both tables are printable so you can use them in real-life Bridge games.




Instant Progress Quiz - Check the correct answer



   One Card in your hand

   Four cards in your hand

   When one card has been played by each player

   An interesting new idea