Bridge Basics 1UB9 Main

How To Keep Score

by Richard Pavlicek

The most popular method of scoring for a single table of bridge is called “Chicago” or four-deal bridge. A round consists of four deals, one by each player in turn. If a deal is passed out, it is not counted and the same player deals again. It is customary to draw a large “X” on the score sheet to indicate the deal number and who is the dealer.

Vulnerability adds spice to the game by varying the magnitude of the scores that can be obtained — either for making or defeating a contract. On Deal 1 neither side is vulnerable, on Deals 2 and 3 the dealer side is vulnerable, and on Deal 4 both sides are vulnerable.

Let’s play a sample round to illustrate. You will be the first dealer. Your score sheet is shown as it would appear after each of the four deals. To better understand it, verify each score from the scoring tables.

Deal 1 — We bid 3 and win 10 tricks. We get 90 for the trick score and 30 for the overtrick. We do not score a game because we did not get 100 points below the line.

Deal 2 — They bid 3 NT and win nine tricks. They get 100 for the trick score and 500 for a vulnerable game. A new line is drawn to indicate that a game has been won.

Deal 3 — They bid 3 , you double, they make it. They get 120 for the trick score (60 doubled), 300 for a nonvulnerable game, and 50 for making a doubled contract.

Deal 4 — We bid 6 and win 12 tricks. Dummy held A-Q-J-10. We get 180 for the trick score, 500 for a vulnerable game, 750 for a vulnerable slam, and 100 for four trump honors in one hand. It’s party time! Adding up all the scores gives us 1650 to their 1070. We win the round by 580 points, which is customarily rounded off to the nearest hundred so we score +600 or +6.

Bridge Basics 1UB9 Main Top How To Keep Score

Trick Score (bid & made)
Clubs or diamonds, each 20
Hearts or spades, each 30
Notrump, first trick 40
Notrump, each add’l trick 30
If doubled multiply by 2
If redoubled multiply by 4

Trick Score (bid & made)
Clubs or diamonds, each	20
Hearts or spades, each	30
Notrump, first trick	40
Notrump, each add’l trick	30
If doubled multiply by 2
If redoubled multiply by 4

Overtricks Nonvul Vul
Undoubled, each trick score
Doubled, each 100 200
Redoubled, each 200 400

Overtricks	Nonvul	Vul
Undoubled, each	trick score
Doubled, each	100	200
Redoubled, each	200	400

Bonuses Nonvul Vul
Game bid & made 300 500
Slam bid & made 500 750
Grand slam bid & made 1000 1500
Non-game bid & made on 4th deal — 100
Making doubled contract 50
Making redoubled contract 100
Four trump honors in one hand 100
Five trump honors in one hand 150
Four aces in one hand at notrump 150

Bonuses	Nonvul	Vul
Game bid & made	300	500
Slam bid & made	500	750
Grand slam bid & made	1000	1500
Non-game bid & made on 4th deal	—	100
Making doubled contract	50
Making redoubled contract	100
Four trump honors in one hand	100
Five trump honors in one hand	150
Four aces in one hand at notrump	150

Sets Nonvul Vul NV × Vul ×
Down 1 50 100 100 200
Down 2 100 200 300 500
Down 3 150 300 500 800
Down 4 200 400 800 1100
Each add’l 50 100 300 300
If redoubled multiply doubled score by 2

Sets	Nonvul	Vul	NV ×	Vul ×
Down 1	50	100	100	200
Down 2	100	200	300	500
Down 3	150	300	500	800
Down 4	200	400	800	1100
Each add’l	50	100	300	300
If redoubled multiply doubled score by 2

Bridge Basics 1UB9 Main Top How To Keep Score