BridgeDummy vs Tricky Bridge: Which Bridge App Fits You?

BridgeDummy vs Tricky Bridge is a question I get asked often, because the two apps look like competitors but solve different problems. I built BridgeDummy as a training tool for players who already know the basics and want to sharpen specific decisions. Tricky Bridge, by Forklift Entertainment, is a learning app for people who have never played bridge or are returning after years away.

As of August 2026, both apps are actively developed. This article covers what each does well, where each falls short, and which one fits your level. Disclosure: I built BridgeDummy, so read this knowing that. I have kept every fact checkable.

Tricky Bridge teaches through a storyline. You work through 57 short lessons on bidding, play, and strategy. Each one mixes explanation with hands you play against AI. A hint button is always available. You progress from Rookie to Grand Master, and the app runs duplicate tournaments in Quick, Daily, and Knockout formats. It has a 4.9-star rating on the App Store with over 4,400 ratings. The ACBL recommends it as a learning resource. That is a strong endorsement.

I designed BridgeDummy for a different job. There is no comparable beginner curriculum: I have learn articles, guides, and one course, but those are reference material, not a step-by-step path. What BridgeDummy does instead is score your decisions. Each puzzle presents a real auction and asks you to pick the best bid or opening lead. Your choice is scored 1 to 5 stars against double-dummy analysis over 1,000+ simulated deals that match the auction. Every alternative in your hand is scored, so you see exactly how much each option costs in matchpoints or IMPs.

The split is simple. If you do not know what a takeout double is, start with Tricky Bridge. If you know but want to find out whether you use it at the right times, that is what I built BridgeDummy for.

Tricky Bridge covers bidding inside its lessons. You can customize the system, and practice mode gives you unlimited free deals against AI. The lessons walk through common sequences step by step. Some App Store reviewers note the bot bidding can be inconsistent (App Store reviews), but for learning purposes it gets the job done.

I built a dedicated Bidding Gym that is public: free, unlimited, no account needed. You bid a random deal against three EPBot opponents, then see how your contract scores across 20 simulated layouts. Five systems are supported: 2/1, SAYC, Acol, Precision, and Polish Club. For deeper practice, bidding puzzles score your decisions in both matchpoint and IMP formats. You can also run partnership bidding challenges with a friend: both pairs bid the same 8 boards and compare results with full contract evaluation.

The difference matters. Tricky Bridge embeds bidding in full gameplay. BridgeDummy isolates the bidding decision and puts a number on it.

This is the widest gap between the two apps, and the feature I am most proud of. I built a dedicated Lead Gym that runs entirely in the browser, is public (no account needed), and has no daily limit. Bots bid a random deal, you pick your opening lead, and every card in your hand is scored by double-dummy analysis across all layouts matching the auction. Separate lead puzzles add 1-5 star grading and track your ELO rating.

Tricky Bridge has no standalone opening lead trainer. You make leads during normal play, but there is no isolated practice mode or scoring for the lead decision. No other bridge app offers a dedicated lead trainer either. I built it because the opening lead is the single decision with the biggest measurable impact on your matchpoint results, and until the Lead Gym there was nowhere to practice it with real feedback.

Both apps offer real free access. Prices below are as of August 2026. Prices change; check the vendor's pricing page.

Tricky Bridge's 57 lessons and practice mode are completely free with no ads. Tournament play costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Deal packs start at $3.99 for 50 deals (App Store).

BridgeDummy's Lead Gym and Bidding Gym are public: free, unlimited, no account needed. The Declarer Trainer, Analyzer, and all calculators are also free and unlimited. Puzzles and challenges cost diamonds. Free accounts get 50 diamonds per month, enough for 50 practice puzzles or 5 daily challenges. Paid plans range from $4.99/month (Basic) to $13.99/month (Premium), with annual billing saving 33%.

At the same $9.99/month price point, Tricky Bridge unlocks unlimited tournament deals. BridgeDummy Pro gives 1,000 diamonds, covering daily challenges, league entries, simulations, and hundreds of scored puzzles. The honest tradeoff: Tricky Bridge gives you more deals to play through; BridgeDummy gives you more feedback per deal.

Tricky Bridge runs on iOS and Android. No web version. The app works offline for practice mode, which is a real advantage for travel. On Mac with an M1 chip or newer, you can install it from the App Store.

BridgeDummy runs on the web as an installable PWA and has an Android app. I do not have an iOS app yet; it is the next platform I ship. The web version works in Safari on iPhone and iPad in the meantime.

If you are an iPhone user who wants a native app, Tricky Bridge wins today. If you prefer training on a computer, BridgeDummy is the only option of the two.

• Best beginner curriculum on mobile. 57 structured lessons that teach bridge from zero, with a storyline and interactive practice after each lesson.
• High app store ratings. 4.9 stars with 4,400+ ratings on iOS. Recommended by the ACBL and honored by the American Bridge Teachers' Association.
• Native iOS app. BridgeDummy has no iOS app yet. Tricky Bridge also runs on Apple Vision Pro.
• Offline play. Practice mode works without an internet connection.
• Full hand play with hints. You play all four phases of a deal against AI, with a hint button at every step. BridgeDummy isolates decisions rather than playing full deals.

• Dedicated Lead Gym. No other bridge app has one. Free, public, unlimited: every card in your hand scored against double-dummy analysis.
• Precise scoring on every decision. Puzzles do not just say right or wrong. They score every option 1 to 5 stars, showing exactly how much each alternative costs.
• Bidding Gym with numerical scoring. Contract evaluation across 20 layouts, public and free.
• Competitive training. Daily challenges with leaderboards, a weekly league with promotion and relegation, 1v1 challenges, and ELO tracking.
• Custom simulations. Set constraints on all four hands, compare contracts and leads via double dummy, share results with a link.

Yes, and I think many players should. Tricky Bridge is the better starting point if you are learning bridge or returning after a long break. Work through the lessons, get comfortable with basic bidding and play, then move to BridgeDummy when you want your decisions measured.

The transition costs nothing. The Lead Gym and Bidding Gym are public: open them in a browser, pick a card or bid, and see your score. No signup, no credit card. If the scored-feedback approach clicks for you, create a free account for puzzles and daily challenges. The two apps cover different stages: one teaches you how to play, the other tells you how well you are playing.

Tricky Bridge is one of the best learn-from-zero bridge apps on mobile. If you have never played, start there. Once you know the rules and want objective feedback on your bidding and opening leads, BridgeDummy is the better tool, and the public gyms let you try it for free right now without creating an account.