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Scoring

Rubber bridge is played in best-two-out-of-three sets of games, known as rubbers. The first partnership to win two games wins a rubber, and with it a sizable point bonus. It is possible, however, for the pair winning two games in a rubber to come out second-best in total points.

A scoresheet for rubber bridge has two columns--one for each partnership--and a horizontal rule running across the middle, known as "the line."

A partnership that bids and makes a contract earns trick points, which are entered below the line, for each level bid. Minor suit tricks are worth 20 points each, and major suit and no trump tricks are 30 points each, except that the first no trump trick is worth 40 points instead of 30. Bidding and making two hearts, for example, earns 60 points below the line.

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If a player makes more tricks than he or she bid, extra points--earned at the same per trick value--are entered above the line. A player who bids two hearts but makes three (takes nine tricks) earns 60 points below the line and 30 points above the line.

When additional points are earned below the line, they are added below previously earned points. When additional points are earned above the line, they are added above previously earned points.

When a team earns 100 or more points below the line, it wins a game. To indicate this, a new horizontal line is drawn below the points that were below the line. A game can be earned in a single deal by bidding and making at least 3 no trump, 4 hearts or spades, or 5 clubs or diamonds; or it can be earned by accumulating smaller numbers of points below the line over a period of two or more deals. A score of fewer than 100 points below the line is known as a "part score" or "partial."

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If a partnership bids and makes a contract that was doubled, all points earned below the line on that hand are doubled. If the contract was doubled and redoubled, the points below the line are quadrupled. Making a bid of one spade doubled and redoubled, therefore, is worth 120 points below the line and wins a game.

A team that has won a game in the rubber is said to be "vulnerable"; a team that has not yet won a game in the rubber is "not vulnerable." Vulnerability affects the size of penalties for failing to make a contract, as well as the value of certain bonuses that may be earned.

Note: In duplicate and team-of-four bridge, in which each deal is independent, vulnerability is preassigned on each deal.

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Scoring
	Rubber bridge is played in best-two-out-of-three sets of games, known as rubbers. The first partnership to win two games wins a rubber, and with it a sizable point bonus. It is possible, however, for the pair winning two games in a rubber to come out second-best in total points. A scoresheet for rubber bridge has two columns--one for each partnership--and a horizontal rule running across the middle, known as "the line." A partnership that bids and makes a contract earns trick points, which are entered below the line, for each level bid. Minor suit tricks are worth 20 points each, and major suit and no trump tricks are 30 points each, except that the first no trump trick is worth 40 points instead of 30. Bidding and making two hearts, for example, earns 60 points below the line. Back to Top If a player makes more tricks than he or she bid, extra points--earned at the same per trick value--are entered above the line. A player who bids two hearts but makes three (takes nine tricks) earns 60 points below the line and 30 points above the line. When additional points are earned below the line, they are added below previously earned points. When additional points are earned above the line, they are added above previously earned points. When a team earns 100 or more points below the line, it wins a game. To indicate this, a new horizontal line is drawn below the points that were below the line. A game can be earned in a single deal by bidding and making at least 3 no trump, 4 hearts or spades, or 5 clubs or diamonds; or it can be earned by accumulating smaller numbers of points below the line over a period of two or more deals. A score of fewer than 100 points below the line is known as a "part score" or "partial." Back to Top If a partnership bids and makes a contract that was doubled, all points earned below the line on that hand are doubled. If the contract was doubled and redoubled, the points below the line are quadrupled. Making a bid of one spade doubled and redoubled, therefore, is worth 120 points below the line and wins a game. A team that has won a game in the rubber is said to be "vulnerable"; a team that has not yet won a game in the rubber is "not vulnerable." Vulnerability affects the size of penalties for failing to make a contract, as well as the value of certain bonuses that may be earned. Note: In duplicate and team-of-four bridge, in which each deal is independent, vulnerability is preassigned on each deal. Back to Top Next: Premium Points