Duplicate Bridge

📌 Quick Info

  • Name of the Game: Duplicate Bridge
  • Number of Players: 4 players per table; often played with multiple tables
  • Decks Required: 1 deck per table; hands are pre-dealt or duplicated

🎯 Objective

To compare your score on the same hand with other players who played identical hands at different tables. Duplicate Bridge emphasizes skill over luck by eliminating the advantage of getting good cards.


🛠️ What You Need

  • 1 deck of 52 cards per table
  • Pre-dealt boards or hand records to replicate hands across tables
  • Score sheets or a bridge scoring system
  • At least 2 tables for competition format

🔄 How to Play – Step by Step

▶️ 1. Setup

  1. Each table receives pre-dealt hands inside a board (North, East, South, West).
  2. Players sit in fixed positions across multiple rounds (e.g., NS remain, EW move).

▶️ 2. Bidding Phase

  1. Same as Contract Bridge: players bid to determine the contract.
  2. The highest bid becomes the contract, and the corresponding player becomes declarer.

▶️ 3. Play Phase

  1. Left of the declarer leads the first trick.
  2. Declarer plays for their side; dummy’s hand is laid face-up.
  3. Each trick is played and collected like in Contract Bridge.

▶️ 4. Scoring Phase

  • After each deal, players note their result (contract, tricks won/lost).
  • That same deal is compared across tables.
  • Players are scored relative to others playing the same hand.

🧠 Key Differences from Contract Bridge

  • Hands are pre-dealt or duplicated and reused across tables.
  • Focus is on how well you play a hand, not what cards you’re dealt.
  • Performance is ranked against other players who had the same cards.

📜 Rules Summary

  • Each table plays the same set of hands.
  • Players rotate tables, but the boards remain unchanged.
  • Scoring is based on matchpoints or IMPs (International Match Points).
  • Fewer points for high cards; more emphasis on play and defense strategy.

⚙️ Optional / Tournament Features

  • Matchpoints: Used in pairs games — you’re scored against every other pair.
  • IMPs: Used in team events — your score difference is converted to points.
  • Barometer scoring: All tables play the same hands at the same time.

🧮 Example Setup

  • Table 1, Board 5: North-South bid 4♠, made 10 tricks
  • Table 2, Board 5: North-South bid 4♠, made 9 tricks
  • Result: Table 1 scores higher due to better execution on the same deal

📚 History & Origin

  • Created to bring fairness and competitive integrity to Contract Bridge.
  • Originated in clubs and tournaments to compare performance across identical hands.
  • Now the standard format for competitive and tournament bridge worldwide.