I love to play cards and Bridge is by far my favorite card game. My preference is to play basic, social bridge. I put this little guide together to make Bridge easier for beginners.
The bidding rules are the rules of thumb a beginner needs to know. The high card point (HCP) calculator makes calculating HCPs in your hand while bidding easier and the scoring tool helps score your hand.
Good luck and enjoy this free guide and tools for Bridge.
The bidding rules are the rules of thumb a beginner needs to know. The high card point (HCP) calculator makes calculating HCPs in your hand while bidding easier and the scoring tool helps score your hand.
Good luck and enjoy this free guide and tools for Bridge.
Rubber Bridge – Single Hand
Bidding Rules of Thumb (Social Bridge)
- 13 may, 14 must: with 13 HCP you may open; with 14+ you must open
- Open 1NT with 15–17 HCP and a balanced hand
- Respond to partner with 6+ HCP
- Raise partner’s major suit with 3+ card support
- Prefer majors over minors when choosing a suit
- Bid No Trump when you have stoppers in opponents’ suits
- ~25 combined HCP → aim for game
- ~33 combined HCP → consider small slam
- ~37 combined HCP → consider grand slam
High Card Points (in suit order)
- ♠ 4
- ♥ 3
- ♦ 2
- ♣ 1
Notes are for reference only and do not affect single-hand scoring.
Rubber Bonus (Reference Only)
- Win the rubber in two straight games: +700
- Win the rubber after opponents win one game: +500
- Rubber bonuses are scored above the line
