How To: Learn the basics of bridge

Bridge is one of the most popular games in the world. The rules may seem overwhelming, but all you need are a few easy steps to learn the basics.

Step 1: Understand the goal
Bridge is a four-player, two-team game. The goal is to score the most points by taking the most tricks and winning the most rounds.

Step 2: Learn the setup
Sit across from your partner. The dealer distributes 13 cards to each player, one at a time, clockwise around the table.

Step 3: Bid on trump
Bid on whether you want a trump or if you want the hand to be played "no trump." If a trump is declared, that suit is worth more than other suits. In no trump, no suit is worth more than any other. Each player bids.

Step 4: Assign points
Assign points to your hand. Aces are four points, Kings are three, Queens are two, and Jacks are one. There are a total of 40 points in the entire deck.

Step 5: Bid
Bid based on how many tricks you can take beyond six. A player with a strong spades hand might bid 1 spade, meaning they think they can take seven tricks with spades as trump. You may choose to bid in no trump if you have high point cards in all suits.

Step 6: Follow rankings
Follow ranks when bidding. Clubs are lowest, then diamonds, hearts, spades, and no trump. You must bid higher than the previous bid, either by calling a higher trump or a higher number of tricks. If you do not want to bid higher, pass.

Step 7: Contract
Establish a contact by winning a bid. The declarer captures the amount of tricks named in the bid using both his and his partner's hands.

Step 8: Lay down dummy hand
Lay down your hand face-up if you're the declarer's partner. This is the dummy hand, which the declarer will draw from during each trick.

Step 9: Play

Lead with any card starting from the dealer's left, following suit, clockwise around the table. The declarer plays a card from his hand and the dummy hand in player order. The highest card takes the trick. If a player can't follow suit, he