French Bridge rules and score calculator
French Bridge is a calling card game played in many Indian homes, close to Judgement but with bigger swings: bonus points for a made zero and a penalty for every hand you're off.
How French Bridge is played
The play is the same as Judgement. Deal the cards, set the trump, have each player call how many hands they'll win, then play hands following suit. What makes French Bridge different is the scoring.
- Deal the round's cards and turn up or announce the trump suit.
- Call. Each player says how many hands they'll win. Many groups keep the dealer's rule: total calls can't equal the cards dealt.
- Play the hands. Follow suit if you can; a trump beats any card of another suit.
- Score each player using the table below, then move to the next round.
French Bridge scoring
| Result | Points | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Win exactly what you called | 10 × your call | Call 3, win 3 → 30 |
| Call 0 and win 0 | 10 × cards dealt | 7 cards dealt → 70 |
| Miss your call | −10 for each hand off | Call 2, win 0 → −20 |
The zero-call bonus makes "I'll win nothing" a bold call in big rounds. Seven cards dealt and a made zero is worth more than calling and winning 6.
Example round (4 cards dealt)
| Player | Called | Won | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asha | 2 | 2 | 20 |
| Ravi | 1 | 2 | −10 |
| Meera | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| Kiran | 0 | 0 | 40 |
French Bridge rules differ from group to group. If yours plays differently, change the scoring in 1-0 and tap "Save as my game" to keep your version.
Common questions
Is French Bridge the same as contract bridge?
No. French Bridge is a family calling game much closer to Judgement (Kachuful) than to contract bridge, which uses partnerships and an auction.
How does the zero call work in French Bridge?
If you call 0 and win no hands, you score 10 times the number of cards dealt that round, so 70 points in a 7-card round.
What is the penalty for missing your call?
You lose 10 points for every hand you are off. Calling 3 and winning 1 costs 20 points.
Why do I need to enter cards dealt in the scorecard?
The zero-call bonus depends on it. The scorecard also uses it to warn you when the hands won don't add up.