Auction bridge

Auction Bridge is a trick-taking card game that evolved from the game of bridge. It was popular during the early part of the 20th century but was later overtaken by contract bridge.

History

Auction Bridge was developed around 1904, and its popularity peaked in the 1920s. It was the first form of bridge to incorporate a bidding process to determine the trump suit and the contract. This added a new level of strategy and skill to the game, making it more appealing to serious players.

Gameplay

In Auction Bridge, four players form two partnerships. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The aim is to win tricks, with each trick consisting of four cards, one from each player. The highest card of the suit led, or the highest trump, wins the trick.

The bidding process in Auction Bridge is a key part of the game. Players take turns to bid for the right to name the trump suit and to contract to take more tricks than their opponents. Bidding continues until three players have passed, after which the highest bid becomes the contract.

Scoring

Scoring in Auction Bridge is based on the number of tricks won, the contract, and any bonuses for overtricks or undertricks. The scoring system is more complex than in other forms of bridge, with different values assigned to tricks in different suits.

Legacy

Although Auction Bridge is no longer widely played, it had a significant impact on the development of card games. It introduced the concept of bidding, which is now a fundamental part of many trick-taking games. It also paved the way for Contract Bridge, which has become one of the most popular card games in the world.

See also

• Contract bridge
• Bridge (card game)
• Trick-taking game