Bridge (Rubber) Rules — How to Play and Keep Score

Overview

Rubber bridge is the classic four-player partnership game, played over a series of deals until one side has won two games. It is the only game in this catalogue where a single deal can swing well over a thousand points, and the scoresheet is famously split by a horizontal line: trick points that count towards winning a game go below it, and every bonus and penalty goes above it. The bidding template applies because each deal records a contract and a result, but the scorer needs the two-column split as well.

Setup

Two fixed partnerships sit opposite each other. Deal the whole deck, thirteen cards each. An auction follows in which each player in turn bids a level and a denomination, doubles the opponents, redoubles, or passes. The final bid becomes the contract, and the side that made it must win six tricks plus the level bid. The player on that side who first named the winning denomination is declarer; their partner's hand is exposed as dummy.

Scoring

Trick points, below the line. Only for tricks bid and made, counting only the tricks beyond six.

Double these figures if the contract was doubled, quadruple them if redoubled.

Games and the rubber. A side that accumulates 100 or more below the line has won a game. Both sides' part scores are then wiped and a fresh line is drawn. Two games win the rubber, worth 700 if the losers won no game or 500 if they won one.

Overtricks, above the line. Undoubled, each is worth the same as a bid trick, so 20 in a minor and 30 in a major or no trumps. Doubled they are worth 100 each not vulnerable and 200 vulnerable. Redoubled they are 200 and 400.

Undertricks, above the line, to the defenders. Undoubled they cost 50 each not vulnerable and 100 vulnerable. Doubled and not vulnerable the first costs 100, the second and third 200 each, and the fourth onwards 300 each. Doubled and vulnerable the first costs 200 and every one after that 300. Redoubled penalties are exactly double the doubled figures.

Other bonuses, above the line. Making any doubled contract adds 50, or 100 if redoubled. A bid and made small slam is worth 500 not vulnerable or 750 vulnerable; a grand slam 1000 or 1500. Honours pay 100 for four of the five top trumps in one hand, 150 for all five, and 150 for all four aces in a no trump contract.

Ending the game

The rubber ends when a side wins its second game. If play stops early, a side with one game takes the unfinished game bonus and a side holding the only part score takes the part score bonus. Add each side's columns; the higher grand total wins regardless of who won the rubber.

Common variations

Chicago replaces the open-ended rubber with exactly four deals and a fixed vulnerability rotation, paying a flat game bonus instead. Duplicate scoring drops the rubber entirely and converts each deal's raw score into comparison points. Many casual tables simply ignore honours and doubles altogether.