Cash Games summary
You can think of cash games as cash-per-board. The IMPs earned or lost translate to money depending on the stakes you choose. You are scored and paid out after every board.
You can also try playing cash games for free in our Free games.
More about Cash games
Cash games are a bit like mini tournaments of only one board, where International Match Points (IMPs) earned or lost translate to money. You’ll choose your stakes and then play as few or as many boards as you’d like. You are scored and paid out after every board, so another way to think of it is cash-per-board.
Understanding stakes ‘per IMP’
Many bridge players are familiar with IMP scoring in tournaments, but fewer have played for moneypoints per IMP. Here’s an example of how it works:
Say you’re playing for €1/IMP stakes, meaning your IMPs have a value of €1. If you win 4 IMPs in your first hand (well done!) you win €4 minus a 5% fee to the house. If you lose 3 IMPs in the next hand (it happens…) you lose €3, plus 5% fee.
Maximum IMP win or loss per board is 24, so in this case the most you can win (or lose) is €24. On average, however, most players see a 2 or 3 IMP result each hand.
You set the stakes
Before you enter a cash game you choose a range of stakes per IMP. The wider you make your range the more likely we will find players in the same range, meaning you will be more quickly seated at a table. Both your partner and opponents will always play in the same range as you. Note that this doesn’t mean that all 4 players at a table have to play for the same stakes. For instance, you can play for the highest stakes we offer, even if there’s only one other player playing at this level!
You are scored after each board
In a cash game, there is no leaderboard and no connection between boards. After each board, you are scored and your table balance is updated with your win or loss amount. Your score is available immediately after each hand; there is no waiting for results. More about scoring.
No need to wait for a full table
As soon as there’s one other player you can start playing real-money games. Just check the box “Allow playing with 1 other player and 2 robots” and you’ll be seated as soon as there’s another player in your range that checked the box as well. If you play with 1 other player at the table you’ll both be partnering robots.
You can play simultaneous tables
After taking a seat at one table, you can minimize the table and start another cash game by choosing Play again from the cash game lobby, even at different stakes. We made it easy to switch between the tables and you’ll receive a notification when it’s your turn on the other table.
The Round-the-clock is a leaderboard tournament that you can play 24/7. Every 12 hours (at 4 am UTC and 4 pm UTC) the winners on the leaderboard are paid out and the leaderboard is reset.
When you enter the tournament you receive 10 boards that you can play at your own pace within 24 hours. After finishing your 10 boards, your score will be on the leaderboard.
You can have 1 score on every leaderboard. After pay-out you can start a new Round-the-Clock tournament.
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More about the Round-the-Clock
What’s great about this tournament
The Round-the-Clock combines the best of bridge tournaments and cash games. It’s like a regular tournament because you register once and then play a series of 10 boards. But, the great thing is that you can start and continue your set of boards anytime you like, day or night. Want to play all your boards in one stretch? Great! Have time for only one board while waiting on the train? Also fine.
You’re never waiting long for a new hand
Even at quiet times we guarantee you can always play. If the table for your next hand does not fill up within 2 minutes we’ll add robots, so you’re never waiting long.
The Round-the-clock is a leaderboard tournament that you can play 24/7. Every 12 hours (at 4 am UTC and 4 pm UTC) the winners on the leaderboard are paid out and the leaderboard is reset.
When you enter the tournament you receive 10 boards that you can play at your own pace within 24 hours. After finishing your 10 boards, your score will be on the leaderboard.
You can have 1 score on every leaderboard. After pay-out you can start a new Round-the-Clock tournament.
More about the Round-the-Clock
What’s great about this tournament
The Round-the-Clock combines the best of bridge tournaments and cash games. It’s like a regular tournament because you register once and then play a series of 10 boards. But, the great thing is that you can start and continue your set of boards anytime you like, day or night. Want to play all your boards in one stretch? Great! Have time for only one board while waiting on the train? Also fine.
You’re never waiting long for a new hand
Even at quiet times we guarantee you can always play. If the table for your next hand does not fill up within 2 minutes we’ll add robots, so you’re never waiting long.
Sunday €1000 Knock-Out
The biggest live matchpoints tournament on Bridge Big. Every Sunday at 7pm UTC play 21 boards of anonymous, individual bridge.
This is a knockout tournament, which means that only the best performing players advance in the tournament.
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More about the Sunday Knockout
The Sunday knockout will be played in 3 stages of 7 boards. After each stage there will be a cut where the top 60% (rounded up to a full table) will continue to the next stage. Meaning that about 36% (60% squared) of the entire field will make it to the final stage. The following graphic illustrates this.
| boards | players remaining |
|---|---|
| 1-7 | 100% |
| 8-14 | 60% |
| 15-21 | 36% |
Scores and Ranking
At the end of each stage we display your stage average (based on the 7 boards you just played). We also show your total score in the tournament. Your total score depends for 50% on your stage average, and for 50% on your score before the current stage (carry-over). Your total score determines your rank and whether you can continue to the next stage.
For example: say you have an average score of 48% for your first 7 boards. You made it through to the next stage and managed to score 55% over the next 7 boards. Your score at the end of stage 2 is now: (48% + 55%) / 2 = 51.5%. If you’d score 54% in the third stage, your total becomes: (51.5% + 54%) / 2 = 52.75%.
You’re paid out after the final stage
If you make it to the final stage of the tournament you’re fighting for a money prize. About 60% of the players that make it to the final stage will win a money prize. How much you win depends on the number of total players that participate in the tournament.
Read more about the exact tournament pay-out for any number of players. Note that the number of players paid out depends on the size of the prize pool and the buy-in for the tournament. In a tournament with a €1,000 prize pool and buy-in of €10 (excluding rake) for example, a pay-out schedule for at least 100 players is used (€1,000/€10).
You know when it starts… and ends!
To make sure we keep a healthy pace in the tournament we set a timer at the beginning of each new stage. This has the advantage that you know exactly when the tournament starts and when it finishes. The remaining time for the current stage will always be clearly visible on the game table. You have about 40 minutes for each stage of 7 boards. That means the whole tournament takes about 2 hours, that is, if you make it till the end :).
The next stage will begin exactly when the stage time is up, even if everyone has already finished playing. This allows you to safely get a cup of coffee or stretch your legs between stages. If the stage finishes before you’ve finished playing, the following happens: If you’re in the middle of bidding or haven’t started a board you’ll receive 40% for the board. If you’re in the middle of playing the hand, it is finished for you using a double dummy solver and you’re scored based on this result.
Sunday Knockout
Every Sunday at 7pm UTC we’re hosting a live knockout tournament of 21 boards. Because it’s a knockout tournament, only the best performing players advance in the tournament.
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More about the Sunday Knockout
The Sunday knockout will be played in 3 stages of 7 boards. After each stage there will be a cut where the top 60% (rounded up to a full table) will continue to the next stage. Meaning that about 36% (60% squared) of the entire field will make it to the final stage. The following graphic illustrates this.
| boards | players remaining |
|---|---|
| 1-7 | 100% |
| 8-14 | 60% |
| 15-21 | 36% |
Scores and Ranking
At the end of each stage we display your stage average (based on the 7 boards you just played). We also show your total score in the tournament. Your total score depends for 50% on your stage average, and for 50% on your score before the current stage (carry-over). Your total score determines your rank and whether you can continue to the next stage.
For example: say you have an average score of 48% for your first 7 boards. You made it through to the next stage and managed to score 55% over the next 7 boards. Your score at the end of stage 2 is now: (48% + 55%) / 2 = 51.5%. If you’d score 54% in the third stage, your total becomes: (51.5% + 54%) / 2 = 52.75%.
You’re paid out after the final stage
If you make it to the final stage of the tournament you’re fighting for a money prize. About 60% of the players that make it to the final stage will win a money prize. How much you win depends on the number of total players that participate in the tournament.
Read more about the exact tournament pay-out for any number of players.
You know when it starts… and ends!
To make sure we keep a healthy pace in the tournament we set a timer at the beginning of each new stage. This has the advantage that you know exactly when the tournament starts and when it finishes. The remaining time for the current stage will always be clearly visible on the game table. You have about 40 minutes for each stage of 7 boards. That means the whole tournament takes about 2 hours, that is, if you make it till the end :).
The next stage will begin exactly when the stage time is up, even if everyone has already finished playing. This allows you to safely get a cup of coffee or stretch your legs between stages. If the stage finishes before you’ve finished playing, the following happens: If you’re in the middle of bidding or haven’t started a board you’ll receive 40% for the board. If you’re in the middle of playing the hand, it is finished for you using a double dummy solver and you’re scored based on this result.
Sunday Knockout Qualifier
- 1Ticket to Knockout
- 2-4Ticket to qualifier
Play now
More on the Sunday qualifiers
Format
Qualifiers for the Sunday Knockout are tournaments of 8 boards and 8 players. Once you start you have 24 hours to complete your 8 boards. The first-ranked player will win a ticket to the Sunday Knockout while the numbers 2, 3 and 4 get a ticket to play the qualifier again.
There are always players
When you play a qualifier you are matched with other Sunday qualifier players as well as players from our Round-the-Clock tournament. That means you can always get a table, even if there are not 8 players present to play a qualifier. Even at quiet times we guarantee you can always play. If the table for your next hand does not fill up within 2 minutes we’ll add robots, so you’re never waiting long.
New leaderboard every 8 scores
Whenever 8 players complete a qualifier the tournament pays out the tickets, and a new empty leaderboard is created. And so on, and so on. That means that you sometimes have to wait a bit to see if you won a ticket or not.
Secret leaderboard
Once you finish your 8 boards you can see your place on the leaderboard, but until then the leaderboard is hidden. This adds to the excitement but also prevents players from artificially delaying their sessions.
Bad score? Start over!
Anytime during your 8 boards you can decide to forfeit your session and start a new session. If you do, your score will end up on the leaderboard with zeros for the boards you missed. It is therefore also possible for players to be on one leaderboard more than once.
Summer Grand Slam
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More on the Summer Grand Slam
The Summer Grand Slam will be played in 5 stages of 8 boards. After each stage there will be a cut where the top 70% (rounded up to a full table) will continue to the next stage. This means that about 1 in 4 players (70% to the 4th power) will make it to the final stage. The following graphic illustrates this.
| boards | players remaining |
|---|---|
| 1-8 | 100% |
| 9-16 | 70% |
| 17-24 | 49% |
| 25-32 | 34% |
| 33-40 | 24% |
Scores and Ranking
At the end of each stage we display your stage average (based on the 8 boards you just played). We also show your total score in the tournament. Your total score depends in part on your stage average, and in part on your score before the current stage (carry-over). The weight of each stage is as follows: (1 + 2/n)/4 where n is the stage number. So the weight of stage 2 is 50%, the weight of stage 3 is 42% (5/12) and so on. Your total score determines your rank and whether you can continue to the next stage.
For example: say you have an average score of 48% for your first 8 boards. You made it through to the next stage and managed to score 60% over the next 8 boards. Your score at the end of stage 2 is now: (48% + 60%) / 2 = 54%. If you’d score 56% in the third stage, your score becomes: 54% * 7/12 + 56% * 5/12 = 54.83%.
Prizes
If you make it to the final stage of the tournament you’re fighting for a money prize. About 60% of the players that make it to the final stage will win a money prize. How much you win depends on the number of total players that participate in the tournament.
Read more about the exact tournament pay-out for any number of players. Note that the number of players paid out depends on the size of the prize pool and the buy-in for the tournament. In a tournament with a €10,000 prize pool and buy-in of €225 (excluding rake) for example, a pay-out schedule for at least 45 players is used (€10,000/€225).
You know when it starts… and ends!
To make sure we keep a healthy pace in the tournament we set a timer at the beginning of each new stage. This has the advantage that you know exactly when the tournament starts and when it finishes. The remaining time for the current stage will always be clearly visible on the game table. You have about 40 minutes for each stage of 8 boards. That means the whole tournament takes about 3.5 hours, that is, if you make it till the end :).
The next stage will begin exactly when the stage time is up, even if everyone has already finished playing. This allows you to safely get a cup of coffee or stretch your legs between stages. If the stage finishes before you’ve finished playing, the following happens: If you’re in the middle of bidding or haven’t started a board you’ll receive 40% for the board. If you’re in the middle of playing the hand, it is finished for you using a double dummy solver and you’re scored based on this result.
Grand Slam Step Qualifier
- 1Ticket to next step
- 2-4Ticket to same step
Play now
More on the Step Qualifiers
Format
Qualifiers for the Summer Grand Slam come in a 2-step format. The step qualifiers are tournaments of 8 boards and 8 players. Once you start you have 24 hours to complete your 8 boards. The first-ranked player will win a ticket to the next step (or final) while the numbers 2, 3 and 4 get a ticket to play the same step again.
There are always players
When you play a step qualifier you are matched with other step players as well as players from our Round-the-Clock tournament. That means you can always get a table, even if there are not 8 players present to play a Step qualifier. Even at quiet times we guarantee you can always play. If the table for your next hand does not fill up within 2 minutes we’ll add robots, so you’re never waiting long.
New leaderboard every 8 scores
Whenever 8 players complete a Step qualifier the tournament pays out the tickets, and a new empty leaderboard is created. And so on, and so on. That means that you sometimes have to wait a bit to see if you won a ticket or not.
Secret leaderboard
Once you finish your 8 boards you can see your place on the leaderboard, but until then the leaderboard is hidden. This adds to the excitement but also prevents players from artificially delaying their sessions.
Bad score? Start over!
Anytime during your 8 boards you can decide to forfeit your session and start a new session. If you do, your score will end up on the leaderboard with zeros for the boards you missed. It is therefore also possible for players to be on one leaderboard more than once.
Sunday Speedball
For the first time on Bridge Big we’re hosting a Speedball tournament. In a speedball you have less time to play each card and less time for every board. To make it extra exciting this will be played as a knockout tournament with €2,000 prize money guaranteed.
This tournament will be hosted instead of the regular Sunday Knock-Out. You can buy in to the tournament directly for €50 or win a ticket in one of the qualifiers.
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More about the Sunday Speedball
Qualifiers
The €50 direct buy-in is the fastest, but not the only way to enter the €2,000 guaranteed Sunday Speedball. You can also earn your entry in one of the qualifiers.
There will be a €10 qualifier on Friday, April 24th at 7 PM UTC where 1 in 5 players will win an entry ticket for the Speedball.
There will be a €15 qualifier on Saturday, April 25th at 7 PM UTC where 1 in 3 players will win an entry ticket for the Speedball.
There will be a €20 qualifier on Sunday, April 26th at 6 PM UTC (just one hour before the main event!) where 2 in 5 players will win an entry ticket for the Speedball.
Format
All three qualifiers are short Matchpoints tournaments of 8 boards each.
The Sunday Speedball main event will be played in 4 stages of 12 boards. After each stage there will be a cut where the top 70% (rounded up to a full table) will continue to the next stage. This means that about 34% (70% to the third power) of the entire field will make it to the final stage. The following graphic illustrates this.
| boards | players remaining |
|---|---|
| 1-12 | 100% |
| 13-24 | 70% |
| 25-36 | 49% |
| 37-48 | 34% |
Duration
To make sure we keep a super-fast pace in the tournament we limit the number of seconds per bid or card to 10 seconds (down from the usual 45s). We also set a timer of 40 minutes at the beginning of each new stage of 12 boards. That means the whole tournament will take about 2.5 hours, that is, if you make it till the end…
The next stage will begin exactly when the stage time is up. If the stage finishes before you’ve finished playing, the following happens: If you’re in the middle of bidding or haven’t started a board you’ll receive -3 IMP for the board. If you’re in the middle of playing the hand, it is finished for you using a double dummy solver and you’re scored based on this result.
Scores and Ranking
At the end of each stage we display your stage total (based on the 12 boards you just played). We also show your total score in the tournament. Your total score is equal to your current stage total plus carryover from previous stages. The carryover is equal to half your IMP total before the current stage.
For example: say you won a total score of 4 IMP on your first 12 boards. You made it through to the next stage and managed to score 10 IMP over the next 12 boards. Your score at the end of stage 2 is now: 4 IMP / 2 + 10 IMP = 12 IMP. If you’d score 8 IMP in the third stage, your total score becomes: 12 IMP / 2 + 8 IMP = 14 IMP, and so on…
Prizes
If you make it to the final stage of the tournament you’re fighting for a money prize. About 60% of the players that make it to the final stage will win a money prize. How much you win depends on the number of total players that participate in the tournament.
Read more about the exact tournament pay-out for any number of players. Note that the number of players paid out depends on the size of the prize pool and the buy-in for the tournament. In a tournament with a €2,000 prize pool and buy-in of €45 (excluding rake) for example, a pay-out schedule for at least 45 players is used (€2,000/€45).