Bridge is a card game that requires strategy, skill, and knowledge of the game’s rules. A contract in bridge is a type of bid that a player makes to take a certain number of tricks or to achieve a certain score. In this article, we will define what a contract is in bridge and how it affects the game.

In bridge, the players are divided into two teams, each consisting of two players. The goal of the game is to score points by taking tricks, which are collections of cards played by the players. The team that wins the most tricks at the end of the game wins the match. A contract is a type of bid that a player makes to take a certain number of tricks or to achieve a certain score.

When a player makes a bid, they are making a statement about the number of tricks they think they can take. There are two types of bids: natural bids and artificial bids. Natural bids are bids that describe a player`s distribution of cards or strength of their hand. Artificial bids are bids that have a specific meaning agreed upon by the players before the game begins.

A contract is a special type of bid that sets the number of tricks a player has to take to win the game. The player who makes the highest bid becomes the declarer, and their partner becomes the dummy. The other team becomes the defenders. The declarer then plays the hand with their partner`s cards face up on the table.

The contract is set during the auction phase of the game. The auction phase begins with the dealer making the first bid. The other players then have the option to pass, bid higher, or double the bid. The auction continues until three consecutive players pass. The last bid becomes the contract.

The declarer must take the number of tricks specified in the contract. If they succeed, they receive a score based on the number of tricks they took and the level of their contract. If they fail, they receive a penalty score. The defenders receive a score based on the number of tricks they took and the level of the declarer`s contract.

In conclusion, a contract in bridge is a type of bid that sets the number of tricks a player has to take to win the game. It is a crucial part of the game, requiring skill and strategy from both the declarer and the defenders. By understanding what a contract is and how it affects the game, players can improve their gameplay and increase their chances of winning.