The deal
Score for this deal
Chicago score sheet
| Deal | Vulnerable | Contract | We | They |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0 | 0 | ||
Chicago: four deals make a round. Deal 1 nobody is vulnerable, deals 2 and 3 the dealer's side is, deal 4 both are. We deal first. Scores use duplicate scoring, so every hand stands on its own.
A bridge scorer for the kitchen-table game, so nobody has to remember whether a doubled overtrick is 100 or 200. Choose the contract, whether it was doubled, if declarer was vulnerable and how many tricks they took. The free scorer shows the total and every part of it: trick points, game or part-score bonus, slam bonus, the insult and overtricks. Add the deal to the Chicago sheet and it keeps a running score for We and They.
How bridge scoring works
Trick points first, for each trick bid above six:
- Clubs and diamonds: 20 each
- Hearts and spades: 30 each
- No trumps: 40 for the first, 30 for each after
Doubling multiplies them by 2, redoubling by 4. If the trick points reach 100, it’s a game: a bonus of 300 not vulnerable or 500 vulnerable. Less than 100 is a part-score, worth 50. So 3NT is 100 trick points plus 300 for game, which makes 400. Four spades vulnerable is 120 + 500 = 620.
| Contract made | Not vulnerable | Vulnerable |
|---|---|---|
| 2♥ | 110 | 110 |
| 3NT | 400 | 600 |
| 4♠ | 420 | 620 |
| 5♦ | 400 | 600 |
| 6NT | 990 | 1,440 |
| 7♠ | 1,510 | 2,210 |
Slams add 500 or 750 for a small slam and 1,000 or 1,500 for a grand. Make a doubled contract and you get an extra 50 for the insult (100 redoubled).
Going down
Undoubled, each undertrick costs 50, or 100 vulnerable. Doubled is where it hurts. Not vulnerable it’s 100 for the first, 200 each for the second and third, then 300 a trick. Vulnerable it’s 200, then 300 a trick. Three down doubled, not vulnerable, is 500. That’s why a sacrifice in 5♣ against their 4♠ can be worth it: −500 beats −620.
The Chicago score sheet
Chicago is the four-deal format most home games use. Deal 1 nobody is vulnerable, deals 2 and 3 the dealer’s side is, and deal 4 everyone is. Leave vulnerability on “Chicago rotation” and the scorer works it out. Each deal is scored on its own, duplicate style, and the sheet adds them up. The last deal of each round of four is underlined.
The scorer uses duplicate scoring throughout, so it’s right for duplicate clubs too. Rubber bridge differs mainly in how game bonuses are carried over, and in honours.
Prefer a different card game? There’s a rummy score sheet, or shuffle and deal a deck with the card shuffler.