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Progressive Bridge


This version is played at Bridge parties when there are more than four players. It encourages sociability in that after several deals, players move to other tables to meet and play Bridge with other players. In some arrangements, partnerships change; in others, the partnerships remain set throughout the session.

Arrangement of Tables
The game is played at two or more tables of four players each. The tables are numbered consecutively from Table No. 1 to the highest number. The table numbers should be conspicuous for the convenience of the players, and each table should be provided with two decks of cards with different backs, one or more pencils, and a score pad showing the contract Bridge scoring table.

Tally Cards
Before play begins, the game director prepares individual tally cards, one for each player. Each tally card bears a table number and designates a position (North, South, East, or West) at the table.

The tally cards may be drawn at random by the players or assigned by the game director, as he prefers. When play begins, each player takes the position assigned by his tally card.

Rounds
A round consists of four deals, one by each player. When all tables are through play, the game director gives a signal, and the players move to their positions for the next round according to the type of progression used. Each round should take about 20 minutes, and the average session of play is from six to seven rounds.

A Deal Passed Out
Only four hands are dealt at each table, one by each player. If a deal is passed out (that is, if all four players pass at their first opportunity to declare), the deal passes to the left, and both sides score zero for that deal.
Method of Progression. At the end of each round, the winning pair at Table No. 1 remains, and the losing pair moves to the last table. At all tables except Table No. 1, the losers remain, and the winners move up one table toward Table No. 1.

This is the standard method of progression, but it may be waived or altered to suit the wishes of the game director or the players. Special tallies may be arranged or obtained, assigning positions for each round in such a way as to give each player as wide a variety of partners as possible.

Selection of Partners
The four players at each table draw cards to determine partners at the start of each round. The two new arrivals at each table draw first, and the one drawing higher has choice of seats and is the first dealer. The one drawing lower sits at the left of the first dealer. The two players who remain at the table from the preceding round then draw. The higher becomes the partner of the dealer. Thus all players change partners after each round. Since the chief function of Progressive Bridge is social, it is preferable to change partners at each round. However, if for some reason a pair contest is desired, the same partnerships may be retained throughout by simply progressing as described above without changing partners at the next table. Another method is to have the original North-South pairs remain in the same positions throughout the game, and to have the East-West pairs progress one table at a time until they reach Table No. 1, and then move to the last table. With this system, the progression is followed automatically, regardless of which pair wins at each table.

Draw for Deal
Unless the dealer has already been determined, the four players at a table draw for first deal. The player who draws highest is the first dealer and may select either deck.

Progressive Bridge Scoring
With the exceptions specifically mentioned below, the scoring for Progressive Bridge is exactly the same as for Rubber Bridge:

Each deal is scored and recorded separately, and no trick points are carried over from one deal to the next.
Game is 100 points for tricks bid and made in one deal. The game premium is 300 points, if not vulnerable, and 500 points if vulnerable, and is allowed only when a game is bid and made in one deal.

A premium of 50 points (some use 100 points) is scored for making any contract less than game (part-score). This premium is in addition to the value of the tricks made. Premiums for a small and grand slam are allowed only if they have been bid for.

A side may not score more than 1,000 points in a single deal, except in the case of a slam contract fulfilled.

Vulnerability
The first deal of each round is played and scored as if neither side were vulnerable.

The second and third deals of each round are played and scored as if the dealer's side were vulnerable and the other side not vulnerable.

The fourth deal of each round is played and scored as if both sides were vulnerable.

This is the most desirable method of determining vulnerability in Progressive Bridge and is in accord with the method used in Chicago Bridge.

Recording the Score
One of the four players at each table is appointed to record the score. He separately enters the result of each deal on the score pad and, at the end of the round, totals all the points made by each side.

The scorer enters on the individual tally of each player the points made by that player's side and also the points made by the opponents.

Correctly designed tallies provide spaces to record both "My Score" and "Opponent's Score." It is important that both scores be entered on the tally; otherwise the record would be meaningless.

Computing Total Scores
At the conclusion of the game, each player totals his score and also the opponents' scores, as recorded on his tally, and subtracts the opponents' total from his own. The difference, plus or minus as the case may be, is recorded in the space provided at the bottom of the tally.

Example: A player scores 2,460 points and the opponents score 1,520 points. This makes his net score +940 for the entire session. On the other hand, if a player scores only 1,650 points, and the opponents score 1,940 points, then his net score for the session is 290 points. A player should not make the mistake of recording only plus scores, for that method gives false results and is likely to lead to improper doubling and redoubling.

Determining the Winner
The player with the largest plus score is the winner. Other players with plus scores rank in descending order, followed by the players with minus scores, the one with the largest minus being last.