Bridge Bidding Chart
Every auction climbs the same ladder. This chart lays out all 35 possible contracts in order, shows how many tricks each one needs, and marks exactly where game and slam begin.
How the Bid Ladder Works
Every bid in bridge names a level (1–7) and a denomination (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades or no-trump). The level is the number of tricks above six you contract to win — so a 1-bid is a promise of seven tricks and a 7-bid of all thirteen. Each bid must rank higher than the last, climbing the ladder below from 1♣ up to 7NT.
The Complete Bidding Chart
Read it bottom-to-top, left-to-right: within any level, no-trump outranks spades, spades outrank hearts, and so on down to clubs. The colours mark the contracts that earn the big bonuses.
For the rules that govern moving up this ladder — legal bids, doubles and how the auction ends — see our guide to bridge bidding rules.
Where Game Begins
"Game" is the level worth a large bonus, and it sits at a different height in each denomination because the suits score at different rates. These are the targets every constructive auction aims at first.
The Five Game Contracts
Because the minors need eleven tricks for game, partnerships with a minor fit often prefer to play 3NT instead — nine tricks is a far easier target than eleven.
Points You Need for Each Level
The combined high-card points your side holds (out of 40 in the deck) point to the level you can safely reach.
Combined Points → Target Level
Reading the Chart at the Table
In practice you rarely think about all 35 contracts at once. You establish a likely strain — a major fit, a minor fit or no-trump — then use the ladder to judge how high to go. The art of bidding is exchanging enough information to land on the right rung: high enough to earn the bonus you are entitled to, but not so high that you cannot make it.
Key Takeaways
- There are 35 contracts — seven levels of five denominations.
- Denominations rank ♣ < ♦ < ♥ < ♠ < NT; each bid out-ranks the last.
- Game is 3NT, 4♥, 4♠, 5♣ or 5♦; slam is the six and seven levels.
- Aim for game with about 25–26 points, small slam with 33+.
- Fit and shape can shift the target up or down from the raw point count.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 35 possible contracts: seven levels multiplied by five denominations, which are clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades and no-trump, running from 1 club up to 7 no-trump.
The game contracts are 3NT for nine tricks, 4 hearts and 4 spades for ten tricks, and 5 clubs and 5 diamonds for eleven tricks. Each earns a large game bonus.
Add six to the level. A 1-level contract needs seven tricks, a 4-level contract needs ten, a small slam at the 6 level needs twelve, and a grand slam at the 7 level needs all thirteen.
A minor-suit game needs eleven tricks, while 3NT needs only nine. When the side has a minor fit but enough strength and stoppers, the easier nine-trick target usually makes 3NT the better contract.
About 25 to 26 combined high-card points is the standard target for game. Around 33 points suggests a small slam and 37 a grand slam, though a good fit can lower those numbers.
Yes. At any given level no-trump is the highest denomination, so 3NT outranks 3 spades. Within the suits the order from low to high is clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades.