Like other forms of bridge, Minibridge is played by four players in fixed partnerships, sitting crosswise. A full pack of 52 cards is dealt to the players, each receiving 13 cards. As in contract bridge, it is then decided which player becomes "declarer", but a key innovation of Minibridge is that this decision is taken out of the players' hands. Declarer's partner then lays open their hand, and declarer announces a contract. This is a trump suit or "no trumps", together with an undertaking to win more than half the tricks ("partscore") or even to win 100 trick points or more ("game"). The remainder of the game is very similar to contract bridge. In particular, declarer's partner becomes "dummy" (i.e., declarer plays both hands).