Where Did the Term "Rubber Game" in Bridge Come From?

An excellent bridge hand.

Bridge has been with us for many years, coming to the United States around the 1890s. Bridge comes from a similar game called whist that originated in the 17th century. Both games use a single deck of cards, and each player receives 13 cards.

Rubber Bridge

Contract bridge or rubber bridge is the social game of bridge. A match, or rubber, ends when one partnership has won two out of three games. The third game often becomes known as the rubber game if each team has won one game.

Other Rubber Games

The term "rubber game" is used in baseball and other sports when the third or final game decides a series. In baseball the term does not refer exclusively to the third game of a tied series. The seventh and final game of a baseball World Series is the ultimate baseball rubber game.

Etymology

Alan Truscott, the former "New York Times" bridge editor, offers the most concise etymology for the term "rubber" in his July 29, 1996 column in the "Gray Lady." According to Truscott, in 1588, Sir Francis Drake was interrupted while playing bowls with word that the Spanish Armada was in sight. In a show of leadership for his captains, Drake said, "We can finish the rubber and beat the Spaniards, too." and the term "rubber" probably migrated to whist and then on to bridge.

References

• An Introduction to Games and to Gamesinfodepot.com: Whist History
• The New York Times: Bridge

Resources

• English Bridge Union: Origins and history of Bridge