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Bridge at Sea

Free Downloads & Apps

Everything you need to run duplicate bridge on a cruise ship or at your club, plus training handouts to sharpen your play. Movement cards, traveller sheets, guides and more, all free.

Apps

As well as free downloads, Bridge at Sea makes a growing family of bridge apps — scoring for every format, a digital bidding box, and Declarer & Defence Challenge — play hands on your own, or challenge a friend wherever they are. All work fully offline once installed. Some are always free; some are free to try.

See all our Apps →

Declarer & Defence Boot Camp

Training handouts by Marc Chawner, Education Officer of the Essex Contract Bridge Association. Marc runs themed training sessions on RealBridge: everyone plays the same specially designed boards, and afterwards he writes up each one, showing the winning line, the common mistakes and who found the best play. These four handouts are the result. They are aimed at intermediate players and written with team (IMP) scoring in mind, so the goal on every hand is simply to make the contract.

Not for light reading. In Marc’s words, each page should be studied and digested before moving on to the next. (He also recommends them as a cure for insomnia: take one to bed and you’ll soon be asleep.)

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Boot Camp · Part 1
The Case for the Defence
The Case for the Defence
Part 1 · 87 pages · PDF
Opening leads, the right card at trick two, keeping partner’s entry, the surround play, when not to overruff, the forcing defence, when to lead a trump, and the Emperor’s Coup.
Download Part 187 pages · by Marc Chawner
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♥
Boot Camp · Part 2
Playing in a Suit Contract
Playing in a Suit Contract
Part 2 · 107 pages · PDF
The four-step “Master Plan”: when and how to draw trumps, planning the ruffs, timing, throw-ins and the A-Q-9 endplay, avoidance plays, loser on loser, unblocking and safety plays.
Download Part 2107 pages · by Marc Chawner
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♦
Boot Camp · Part 3
No Trump Declarer Play
No Trump Declarer Play
Part 3 · 88 pages · PDF
A five-step strategy: counting tricks, hold-ups, the danger hand, which suit first, avoidance, preserving and creating entries, suit combinations, safety plays and counting the hand.
Download Part 388 pages · by Marc Chawner
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♣
Boot Camp · Part 4
Know Your Percentages
Know Your Percentages
Part 4 · 109 pages · PDF
How suits break and why it matters, choosing between lines, finesse patterns and the double finesse, “one of two finesses”, combining chances and always having a back-up plan.
Download Part 4109 pages · by Marc Chawner
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Want to put the ideas into practice? Many of these techniques appear in Declarer Challenge and Defence Challenge, where Marc now helps review the hands. © Marc Chawner. Shared on Bridge at Sea with his kind permission.

Movement Packages

Each package includes the movement card for each table and the matching traveller sheets. Find your group size and download both together.

♠ ♣
Table 1
Rd 1 NS 1 · EW 2
Rd 2 NS 1 · EW 3
Rd 3 NS 1 · EW 4
TRAVELLER
2-Table Howell
4 pairs · 8 players
A complete competitive tournament for a small group. All 4 pairs play each other. Three session lengths available.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 6 boards~45 min · 4 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 6 boards~45 min · print 6 copies
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Movement card — 12 boards~1.5 hrs · 4 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 12 boards~1.5 hrs · print 12 copies
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Movement card — 24 boards~3 hrs · 4 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 24 boards~3 hrs · print 24 copies
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♥ ♦
2.5-Table
Rd 1 NS 1 · EW 2
Rd 2 SIT OUT
Rd 3 NS 1 · EW 4
TRAVELLER
2.5-Table Howell
5 pairs · 10 players · sit-out
For an odd number of 5 pairs. One pair sits out each round in rotation — everyone plays the same number of hands and all results count.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 15 boards~2 hrs · 5 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 15 boards~2 hrs · print 15 copies
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Movement card — 25 boards~3 hrs · 5 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 25 boards~3 hrs · print 25 copies
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♣ ♠
3-Table
Rd 1 NS 1 · EW 2
Rd 2 NS 1 · EW 4
Rd 3 NS 1 · EW 6
TRAVELLER
3-Table Howell
6 pairs · 12 players
The sweet spot for cruise bridge. Every pair faces every other pair. Three session lengths to suit your schedule.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 10 boards~1.5 hrs · 6 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 10 boards~1.5 hrs · print 10 copies
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Movement card — 15 boards~2 hrs · 6 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 15 boards~2 hrs · print 15 copies
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Movement card — 25 boards~3 hrs · 6 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 25 boards~3 hrs · print 25 copies
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♦ ♥
3.5-Table
Rd 1 NS 1 · EW 2
Rd 2 SIT OUT
Rd 3 NS 1 · EW 5
TRAVELLER
3.5-Table Howell
7 pairs · 14 players · sit-out
Seven pairs with one sitting out each round. A full competitive event where everyone gets equal playing time and all results feed into the final rankings.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 14 boards~2 hrs · 7 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 14 boards~2 hrs · print 14 copies
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Movement card — 28 boards~3.5 hrs · 7 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 28 boards~3.5 hrs · print 28 copies
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♠ ♦
4-Table
Rd 1 NS 1 · EW 2
Rd 2 NS 1 · EW 4
Rd 3 NS 1 · EW 6
TRAVELLER
4-Table Howell
8 pairs · 16 players
Four tables is where cruise bridge really comes alive. A proper club-standard tournament for 8 pairs.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 14 boards~2 hrs · 8 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 14 boards~2 hrs · print 14 copies
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Movement card — 28 boards~3.5 hrs · 8 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 28 boards~3.5 hrs · print 28 copies
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♣ ♥
4.5-Table
Rd 1 NS 1 · EW 2
Rd 2 SIT OUT
Rd 3 NS 1 · EW 6
TRAVELLER
4.5-Table Howell
9 pairs · 18 players · sit-out
Nine pairs with one sitting out per round. Keeps the tournament fair and competitive while accommodating an awkward number of players.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 18 boards~2.5 hrs · 9 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 18 boards~2.5 hrs · print 18 copies
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Movement card — 27 boards~3.5 hrs · 9 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 27 boards~3.5 hrs · print 27 copies
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♥ ♠
5-Table
Rd 1 NS 1 · EW 2
Rd 2 NS 1 · EW 4
Rd 3 NS 1 · EW 6
TRAVELLER
5-Table Howell
10 pairs · 20 players
Ten pairs — a serious tournament for ships with a strong bridge following. Full club-standard Howell movement.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 18 boards~2.5 hrs · 10 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 18 boards~2.5 hrs · print 18 copies
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Movement card — 27 boards~3.5 hrs · 10 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 27 boards~3.5 hrs · print 27 copies
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♠ ♣
MITCHELL
NS Stay fixed
EW Move up 1
Bds Move down 1
TRAVELLER
5-Table Mitchell
10 pairs · 20 players
NS pairs stay fixed while EW pairs travel. Produces separate NS and EW rankings. A great step up from Howell for larger groups.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 15 boards~2 hrs · 10 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 15 boards~2 hrs · print 15 copies
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Movement card — 25 boards~3 hrs · 10 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 25 boards~3 hrs · print 25 copies
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♥ ♦
HESITATION
NS 1–7 Stay fixed
Pairs 8–11 Mostly EW
1 round Sit N–S
TRAVELLER
6-Table Hesitation Mitchell
11 pairs · 22 players · sit-out
Eleven pairs, one sitting out each round. Pairs 1–7 stay fixed North–South; pairs 8–11 mostly play East–West but each briefly sits North–South at the hesitation table before continuing — the fairest published movement for this awkward number.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 21 boards~2.5 hrs · 11 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 21 boards~2.5 hrs · print 21 copies
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Movement card — 28 boards~3.5 hrs · 11 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 28 boards~3.5 hrs · print 28 copies
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♣ ♠
MITCHELL
NS Stay fixed
EW Move up 1
Bds Move down 1
TRAVELLER
6-Table Skip Mitchell
12 pairs · 24 players
Six tables with Skip Mitchell — EW pairs skip a table at halfway to avoid playing the same boards twice.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 18 boards~2 hrs · 12 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 18 boards~2 hrs · print 18 copies
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Movement card — 24 boards~3 hrs · 12 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 24 boards~3 hrs · print 24 copies
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♦ ♥
MITCHELL
NS Stay fixed
EW Move up 1
Bds Move down 1
TRAVELLER
6.5-Table Skip Mitchell
13 pairs · 26 players · sit-out
Thirteen pairs with one sitting out each round. Skip Mitchell with sit-out handles this awkward number cleanly.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 18 boards~2 hrs · 13 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 18 boards~2 hrs · print 13 copies
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Movement card — 24 boards~3 hrs · 13 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 24 boards~3 hrs · print 13 copies
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♠ ♦
MITCHELL
NS Stay fixed
EW Move up 1
Bds Move down 1
TRAVELLER
7-Table Mitchell
14 pairs · 28 players
Seven tables with standard Mitchell movement — 14 pairs with full separate NS and EW rankings.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 21 boards~2.5 hrs · 14 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 21 boards~2.5 hrs · print 21 copies
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Movement card — 28 boards~3.5 hrs · 14 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 28 boards~3.5 hrs · print 28 copies
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♥ ♣
HESITATION
NS 1–7 Stay fixed
Pairs 8–15 Mostly EW
1 round Sit N–S
TRAVELLER
8-Table Hesitation Mitchell
15 pairs · 30 players · sit-out
Fifteen pairs, one sitting out each round. Pairs 1–7 stay fixed North–South; pairs 8–15 mostly play East–West but each briefly sits North–South at the hesitation table before continuing — noticeably fairer board-count balance than a plain sit-out Mitchell at this size.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 18 boards~2.5 hrs · 15 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 18 boards~2.5 hrs · print 18 copies
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Movement card — 27 boards~3.5 hrs · 15 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 27 boards~3.5 hrs · print 27 copies
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♣ ♥
MITCHELL
NS Stay fixed
EW Move up 1
Bds Move down 1
TRAVELLER
8-Table Skip Mitchell
16 pairs · 32 players
Eight tables — a full club-size tournament. Skip Mitchell keeps EW pairs from playing the same boards twice.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 16 boards~2 hrs · 16 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 16 boards~2 hrs · print 16 copies
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Movement card — 24 boards~3 hrs · 16 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 24 boards~3 hrs · print 24 copies
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♦ ♠
MITCHELL
NS Stay fixed
EW Move up 1
Bds Move down 1
TRAVELLER
8.5-Table Skip Mitchell
17 pairs · 34 players · sit-out
Seventeen pairs with one sitting out each round. Skip Mitchell with sit-out handles this number perfectly.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 16 boards~2 hrs · 17 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 16 boards~2 hrs · print 17 copies
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Movement card — 24 boards~3 hrs · 17 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 24 boards~3 hrs · print 17 copies
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♠ ♥
MITCHELL
NS Stay fixed
EW Move up 1
Bds Move down 1
TRAVELLER
9-Table Mitchell
18 pairs · 36 players
Nine tables — a large, serious duplicate event. Standard Mitchell for 18 pairs with full separate NS and EW rankings.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 18 boards~2 hrs · 18 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 18 boards~2 hrs · print 18 copies
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Movement card — 27 boards~3 hrs · 18 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 27 boards~3 hrs · print 27 copies
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♥ ♠
MITCHELL
NS Stay fixed
EW Move up 1
Bds Move down 1
TRAVELLER
10-Table Skip Mitchell
20 pairs · 40 players
Ten tables — the maximum in the Bridge at Sea system. Skip Mitchell for 20 pairs across 10 tables.
Choose session length:
Movement card — 20 boards~2 hrs · 20 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 20 boards~2 hrs · print 20 copies
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Movement card — 30 boards~3 hrs · 20 pairs
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Traveller sheets — 30 boards~3 hrs · print 30 copies
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Stationery & Guides

Printable stationery for running your session, plus guides and board materials for cruise ship bridge.

♦
Blank Traveller Sheets
Universal · any session size
Standard traveller sheets for any number of tables. Each sheet covers one board — record NS pair, EW pair, contract, declarer, result and score.
Blank Traveller SheetsPrint as many as you need
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♣
Session Sign-Up Sheet
Player registration
Print and take to the card room — players sign up, helping you count pairs and plan which movement to use before the session starts.
Sign-Up Sheet1 page · print double-sided
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♥
Conventions & Score Card
Quick reference · scoring guide
A handy reference card covering standard bridge conventions and scoring values. Useful for players new to duplicate.
Conventions & Score CardPrint and laminate for the table
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🚢
DIY Bridge Boards
Everything you need to make tournament boards from playing cards
DIY Bridge Boards
Complete package · 3 downloads
No boards on your ship? Using just playing cards and rubber bands you can make a full set of duplicate boards.
Complete package:
Read the Complete GuideStep-by-step illustrated instructions
→
Bridge-hands TemplatesN/S/E/W card holders · print & cut
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Board Cards — 30 boardsDealer & vulnerability slips
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♣
Bridge Scorer V3 Handbook
Free guide · PDF
Setting up V3 for your club? This handbook covers registering pairs, running rounds, scoring, and exporting results to BridgeWebs.
Read the HandbookPDF · opens in a new tab
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♠
Declarer Challenge Handbook
Free guide · PDF
New to Declarer Challenge? This handbook walks through playing a hand, scoring, saving your results, and challenging a friend — a good read before you dive in.
Read the HandbookPDF · opens in a new tab
→
All materials are free. If you find these useful, share the site with fellow bridge players, or leave a small tip below ☕ to help keep them free — and when you’re ready for your next bridge cruise, check our Cruises page for voyages with 6 or more sea days.
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