Bridge (Rubber Bridge)
Card Track with Paper ScoreBid, play, score the rubber.
Who goes first?
Settle it before the Bridge (Rubber Bridge) argument starts. Pick how many players, add names if you like, and spin.
Keeping score too? Doodle Score remembers your players and tallies every round.
Game Identity
- Name: Bridge (Rubber Bridge)
- Player Count: 4 players (fixed). Two partnerships.
- Teams: Yes — 2 teams of 2. Partners sit across (North/South vs East/West).
- Theme: The world's most complex trick-taking card game. The app tracks Rubber Bridge scoring — "above the line" and "below the line" points with vulnerability tracking.
Scoring Mechanics
- Scoring Variant: Special — dual-line scoring (trick score below the line, honors/bonuses above the line). First partnership to win two games wins the rubber.
- Target Score: Win 2 games (each game = first to 100+ trick points below the line).
- Unit of Scoring: Points per hand, split into above-the-line and below-the-line categories.
- Lower vs. Higher: Higher total score wins the rubber.
Rules & Validation
Per-Hand Logic
Below-the-Line (Trick Score): Only tricks bid and made in the contract count.
Contract Level × Suit Points per trick ♣ / ♦ (minor) 20 ♥ / ♠ (major) 30 NT (first trick) 40 NT (subsequent tricks) 30 - Doubled contracts: ×2. Redoubled: ×4.
- 100+ below-the-line points in a game = Game won. New "below the line" starts.
Above-the-Line (Bonus Points):
Bonus Points Overtricks (undoubled) 20/30 per trick (per suit) Overtrick (doubled, not vul) 100/trick Overtrick (doubled, vul) 200/trick Making doubled contract +50 Making redoubled contract +100 Undertricks (not vul, undoubled) −50 each Undertricks (vul, undoubled) −100 each Undertricks (doubled, 1st, not vul) −100 Undertricks (doubled, 1st, vul) −200 Undertricks (doubled, 2nd/3rd, not vul) −200 each Undertricks (doubled, after 3rd, not vul) −300 each Honors (4 top trumps in one hand) +100 Honors (5 top trumps in one hand) +150 Honors (all 4 Aces in NT in one hand) +150 Slam (Small Slam made) +500 (not vul) / +750 (vul) Slam (Grand Slam made) +1,000 (not vul) / +1,500 (vul) Rubber bonus (2-0 in games) +700 Rubber bonus (2-1 in games) +500 Unfinished rubber, 1 game +300 Vulnerability: A partnership becomes vulnerable after winning one game. Bonuses and penalties increase when vulnerable.
Validation Rules:
- All entries must be integers.
- Below-the-line entries only for tricks in the bid contract made.
- Above-the-line entries for all bonuses and penalties.
Special Actions / Bonuses
- Small Slam: Bid and made 6-level contract.
- Grand Slam: Bid and made 7-level contract (all 13 tricks).
- Double / Redouble: Modifier on the contract; affects trick score and overtrick/undertrick bonuses.
Win Conditions
- Condition: First partnership to win 2 games wins the rubber. Rubber bonus added to their final score. Team with the higher total (above + below the line, both games summed) wins.
- Tie-Breaker: The rubber winner always earns the rubber bonus; their total will typically be higher. If the non-winning team has more total points (unusual), no additional tiebreaker is defined in standard rules.
Set Up in Doodle Score
Bridge (Rubber Bridge) doesn't have a dedicated scorecard yet — track it for free using a general scorecard:
- Tap New Scorecard and choose Paper Score (tracks all players each round in a grid)
- Add 4 players (adjust as needed)
- Set Target Score to Win 2 games. (or skip for open-ended play)
Common Bridge (Rubber Bridge) rules questions
The arguments that come up at the table, answered from the official rules. Where house rules differ, we say so.
Do overtricks count toward game in Bridge?
No. Overtricks score extra points, but only the tricks you bid count toward game.
What can the dummy say during play?
Very little. Dummy can't suggest plays, but can ask declarer if they have none of a suit when they fail to follow.
What does vulnerable mean?
In rubber bridge, a side that has won a game is vulnerable. Making contracts scores more, and going down costs more.
What is the penalty for a revoke?
Not following suit when you could is a revoke. Once it's established, the penalty is usually one or two tricks to the other side.
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