Home > Sports > Traditional Sports in India > Contract Bridge
Contract Bridge
Contract bridge is played with the standard deck of 52 playing cards. Four players can play this game with two competing partnerships, where partners sit opposite to one another around a table.

Share this Article:

Contract BridgeContract bridge or bridge as it is also known as is a game about trick taking and is played with the standard deck of 52 playing cards. Four players can play this game with two competing partnerships, where partners sit opposite to one another around a table. Many people across the country and around the world play this game with friends sitting in a club or at home with family. For the purpose of scoring and reference each player is marked by one of the points of compass and thus South and North play against West and East. It consists of many deals each moving forward through 4 phases: dealing of the cards, the auction, playing the hand and scoring the results. Dealing with the cards and scoring results are part of procedural activities while auction and playing the hand are two actively competitive segments of the game.

Dealing:
Partnerships are actually determined by self or by cuts of cards the two highest cut playing against the two lowest; the first dealer is the player cutting the highest card. Cards are dealt clockwise, one at a time and face down starting on the dealer`s left so that each player receives thirteen cards. In duplicate bridge the dealer is predetermined by the board. The board also contains the four hands which have been dealt and placed in the board prior to commencement of the game; these hands are not reused over the course of the event.

Auction or Bidding:
The process of bidding starts with the dealer and also rotates around the table in a clockwise direction with each player making a call. The main purpose of course is to find out which partnership will contract to take more tricks given a particular trump suit or with no trump.

The partnership that makes for highest final bid is called declaring side and is also said to have won the contract. During the auction, the player on declaring side first stated the suit ultimately becoming trumps (or first stated no-trump if that is the final strain) is referred to as the declarer)

Playing:
The rules used for contract bridge is similar to some of the other trick games that are quite popular as well. There are some other additional features as well like the hand of declarer partner is displayed face up on the table after the opening lead to the left of the declarer has been made by the member of the defending side. The hand that is displayed is referred to as Dummy and is played by declarer.

Scoring:
After all the thirteen have been played with the score is calculated by comparing the original number of tricks taken by the declaring partnerships with what is proposed in the awarding points and contracts accordingly. For the declaring side, the available scoring side are dependent upon both the strain and level of the contract and are also awarded to them only when the contract is made which is at least the contracted for number of tricks are won by them; failure to do so results in the defending side`s receiving points instead and they are said to have `defeated` the contract. Individual scores of several hands are accumulated to determine the overall game score.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Traditional Sports in India


Traditional Games in Kasargod
The folk arts and fairs in Kasargod includes Buffalo race and Cock fight.
Gatka
Gatka is an ancient martial art developed to defend and display fighting skills and to better exercise self control.
Thoda
It is a martial form of Himachal Pradesh, practised by bows and arrows.
Dhopkhel
Dhopkhel is a very famous indigenous game of the Assamese. A rubber ball is used to play Dhopkhel and the players need great speed and other athletic skills to play this game.
Mardani Khel
Mardani Khel is an Indian martial arts based from Maharashtra. This martial art belonged from early eras which were used as a technique in warfare.
Mukha Khela
Also known as the dance of masks, the Mukha Khela is based on ancient themes.
Khong Kangjei
Also known as Manipuri hockey, the sport of Khong Kangjei is one of the popular sports in the state of Manipur. The game is a combination of both hockey and wrestling.
Rules of Kho Kho
Kho Kho is a popular game invented in Maharashtra, India. Apart from the India, it is also played by the Indian community residing in South Africa. It is played mostly by school children in India.
Langdi
Langdi is a traditional Indian field game which is similar to Hopscotch. The game has been included as regular game in Mumbai University. Played on one foot, it combines strategy with physical skill. Rooted in ancient history, Langdi is not only culturally significant but also serves as excellent training for other athletic disciplines.
Traditional Games
Apart from the other famous traditional games, these other regional games have also been a part of our Indian culture.
Hiyang Tannaba
Hiyang Tannaba is a traditional game of Manipur. The sport involves boat race during the festival of Lai Haraoba.
Kalaripayattu Martial Art
Kalaripayattu is an ancient form of martial art training and discipline of Kerala, which has its root back to the 12th century.
History of Kho Kho
The Kho Kho Game has its mention in the epic Mahabharata. The modern game has been transformed in many ways.
Kho-Kho
Kho-Kho is a traditional Indian sport where the participants have to chase and catch their opponents in order to win the game.
Silambam
Silambam is a weapon-based Martial Art of India. It is a type of a fencing game, more popular in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Gilli Danda
With many regional variations, Gilli Danda is a traditional Indian sport played with two wooden sticks.
Chaturanga
Chaturanga is one of the oldest board games in India. It is considered to be the ancestor of modern Chess.
Kabaddi in India
Kabaddi in India, introduced during the pre-historic period, is recognised as a premier National Sport.
Pallankuzhi
Pallankuzhi is a traditional board game of Tamil Nadu, which is mainly played by the women of Tamil Nadu.
Hide and Seek Game
Hide and Seek is a popular children’s game where one person would find the other players who are hiding in different places.