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BRIDGE
TUTORIAL (First Steps) |
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PLAYING CARDS |
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For the purpose of
Bridge, the pack comprises 52 playing cards divided into four suits, Spades,
Hearts, |
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Diamonds, and Clubs |
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Each suit has 13 cards
headed by an Ace followed by the King,Queen,Jack (or Knave), 10,9, 8, etc.
down |
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to the 2. Jokers and any other cards are discarded |
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THE DEAL |
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To commence play the
cards are dealt out face down to each of the players in turn, clockwise,
until all of the |
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cards have been dealt and each player has 13 cards. |
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GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PLAY |
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The general play of the cards is
similar to whist. Before play of the hand starts, one of the suits is
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designated "Trumps" (the hows and whys will be explained
later). The player who is "on lead" (again explained later) |
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plays a card by laying it face up in the middle of the table. Then the
other players at the table, clockwise and in turn, |
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must play a card of the same suit. This is called "following
suit". When all four players have contributed a card this |
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constitutes a "trick" and the player who plays the highest
ranking card in the suit wins the trick for his side. If, when |
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it is a player's turn to play,he does not have a card in that suit, he
may substitute a card from the trump suit, in which |
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case it wins the trick (this is called "ruffing"), or he may
throw away a card from another suit (this is called a "discard"). |
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If a player has a card or cards in the suit being played, and chooses to
"ruff" or "discard" on the trick, he is in breach |
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of the rules and
is subject to a penalty (this is called "revoking"). |
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