Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters was my first introduction to trading card games, and today I like to think that it contributed to becoming a better bridge player later on. There are plenty of similarities between the two games – and hopefully pointing this out might even help traditional TCG players transition to bridge faster and easier.

Here are some comparisons between the game of Duel Monsters and bridge.  

The Table is the Playing Field

In bridge, the bridge table – and optional bridge screen – takes over the place of the playing field. This is where most of the action happens and where the strength of one card beats out the others placed on the field. 

Each Hand Has Several Stages

Bridge sees play in three stages: (1) Bidding, (2) Play and (3) Scoring. 

Duel Monsters instead has (1) Draw, (2) Standby, (3) Main Phase 1, (4) Battle Phase (5) Main Phase 2 and the last End Phase. 

Master Points are Star Chips 

Players in bridge accrue Master Points for playing – and of course, winning. In Duel Monsters, the Duel Academy instead issues players with Star Chips. 

The only difference is that Star Chips can get wagered and Master Points don’t.

Contract Bids Are Challenges 

The Yu-Gi-Oh! universe relies on challenges: Occasionally, the series puts these games at high stakes – sometimes for star chips and sometimes for more than this depending on what’s convenient for the story’s plot.

Challenges say, “I’m going to end this game successfully.” 

For bridge, these are contracts: How many tricks do you think you can win in which suit?  

Attacks are Tricks

Duel Monsters has monsters, represented by the cards on the field, either in the defense or attack position. When they’re attacking, one monster card takes on another – and the one with the highest attack points manages to take the opposing monster off the field.

Instead of an attack stage and attack points allocated to each card, in bridge, attacks are tricks – and suits are almost like attack points.

Life Points? Scoring and Vulnerability

In some bridge games, one side can be vulnerable – or at an immediate disadvantage compared to the opposing team in rubber bridge games.

In Duel Monsters, there are many things that can affect your life points – basically, your score – and yes, you can start a game with more vulnerability than your opponent. 

Honor Cards are God Cards 

Within bridge, your Honor Cards are AKQJ, and the Master Card for your hand is the one that holds the most power at that time. These can be likened to the God Cards in Duel Monsters: Rare cards that can get you out of tricky situations in hands where you might have otherwise been beaten.

Duel Disks? Card Holders

Card holders are a common sight in bridge, and the closest Duel Monsters equivalent is the Duel Disk: It fits right on the player’s arm, displaying essential statistics about the game and keeping their cards within reach (yet hidden from opponents). 

Both Have World Competition 

Bridge is huge, played both casually and competitively, sometimes for money and high stakes and many times not: The same applies to both games, which see international competitors and daily matches.