Editing Contract bridge (section)

=== Play ===
The player from the declaring side who first bid the denomination named in the final contract becomes declarer.{{Efn|For example, if player A bids 2{{hearts}} and player B, their partner, raises to 4{{hearts}} and that becomes the final contract, then player A becomes declarer.}}<ref name="defdeclarer">[[#rubberlaws|Laws of Rubber Bridge]], Part I ("Definitions"): Declarer.</ref> The player left to the declarer leads to the first trick. Dummy then lays his or her cards face-up on the table, organized in columns by suit. Play proceeds clockwise, with each player required to follow suit if possible. Tricks are won by the highest trump, or if there were none played, the highest card of the led suit.{{Sfn|Gibson|1974|pp=136–137}} The player who won the previous trick leads to the next trick. The declarer has control of the dummy's cards and tells his partner which card to play at dummy's turn.<ref name="law43">[[#rubberlaws|Laws of Rubber Bridge]], Law 43, p. 20.</ref> There also exist conventions that communicate further information between defenders about their hands during the play.<ref name="law41"/>

At any time, a player may {{gcb|claim}}, stating that their side will win a specific number of the remaining tricks. The claiming player lays his cards down on the table and explains the order in which he intends to play the remaining cards. The opponents can either accept the claim and the round is scored accordingly, or dispute the claim. If the claim is disputed, play continues with the claiming player's cards face up in rubber games,<ref name="law6871">[[#rubberlaws|Laws of Rubber Bridge]], Law 68–71, pp. 32–34.</ref> or in duplicate games, play ceases and the tournament director is called to adjudicate the hand.<ref name="lawd6871">[[#rubberlaws|Laws of Rubber Bridge]], Law 68–71, pp. 82–86.</ref>