The main kinds of competitive bridge are pairs events and teams events. Bridge is played internationally. In each odd-numbered year there are the Bermuda Bowl (World Open Teams) and the Venice Cup (World Women's Teams) in which 16 teams representing different geographical zones compete. Every four years in the 'Bridge Olympiad' a far greater number of teams compete. In recent years, more than sixty countries have been represented at these Olympiads. In the other even-numbered years there are the World Pairs Championships (open pairs, womens pairs, mixed pairs) as well as the Rosenblum Cup (another World Open Teams).

Each country conducts national championships and many tournaments of lower status. There are also tournaments to select the players who will represent their country.

Many clubs conduct an Individual Championship once a year. In pairs and teams events, you keep the same partner for each session and usually throughout the event. In an Individual each competitor plays with every other competitor for one, two or three deals. Individuals are not considered serious events since partnership understanding tends to be minimal. A calm temperament is a prerequisite to surviving an Individual.

In general, pairs events are more common than any other type of event. The advantage of tournament bridge is that the element of having good cards or bad cards is reduced to a minimum, since all players play exactly the same deals. Another advantage is that you can compete against the top players merely by playing in the same tournament. In few other sports could a novice play against a world champion in a tournament. Tournament bridge also improves your game, since hand records are available to check afterwards where you may have gone wrong.

There are some differences between tournament bridge and rubber bridge in regard to technicalities and strategy. Except at the first table, you will not shuffle and deal the cards. The cards come to you in a tray, called a 'board' and you must put the cards back in the correct slot after the board has been played. The board is marked N, E, S and W, and must be placed properly on the table. The board also states which side is vulnerable and who is the dealer. During the play, the cards are not thrown into the middle of the table. Each player keeps the cards in front of them, turning them face down after the trick is over. You may examine the trick just played only while your card remains face up. Tricks won are placed vertically, tricks lost horizontally. After the hand is over, you can see at a glance how many tricks have been won and how many lost.