Summary

Welcome to the Bridgemate scoring system, world's most favoured scoring system for bridge. In this article you will find all relevant information to set up your system and start scoring your first game. It is a quick guide for beginners to get started and will provide you with references to other articles containing in-depth information. Please note that this article is not the same as the Bridgemate manual which is your most valuable source of information. Below you will find the links to the Bridgemate manuals as well as to the software and drivers.

Your Bridgemate III or Bridgemate II hardware

If you have recently purchased the Bridgemate system, it is wise to make sure you have all the hardware you need. There are two Bridgemate systems available in the market: Bridgemate III and Bridgemate II. A typical configuration of both systems is as follows:
 

Bridgemate III

  • X number of Bridgemate III scoring terminals. One per table is needed.
  • Bridgemate III server, including a USB-C cable for connection to the USB port of your computer.
  • A charge case for effortless charging up to ten Bridgemates simultaneously.
  • Bridgemate III manual. Manuals may be provided in paper format or digitally.


Bridgemate II

  • X number of Bridgemate II scoring terminals. One per table is needed. Bridgemate II comes with 2 AA batteries.
  • Bridgemate II server, including USB cable for direction connection to your USB port for data transfer and power supply. 4 AA batteries are optional (for backup power) and may or may not be included with the server by your supplier.
  • Bridgemate II manual. Manuals may be provided in paper format or digitally.

If your system is missing one of the above items, please consult your supplier.

Manual

Bridgemate III and Bridgemate II both come with their own manual. This manual may be provided in paper format or offered to you as digital download from our website. You can find the latest manual of both systems from the following links:
 

Installing Bridgemate Control Software

After you have verified your Bridgemate hardware and have the manual ready, it is time to set up the system on your computer. Your computer must be equipped with Windows 10 or Windows 11. Always ensure your Windows is fully up to date with the latest updates before you install the Bridgemate system on your computer. 

First your will need to install the Bridgemate Control Software (BCS) on your computer. This program communicates with the Bridgemate hardware and functions as a gateway between your scoring program and the Bridgemate hardware. BCS supports both Bridgemate III and Bridgemate II.

The latest version of this program is always published in this article. Follow the link in this article to the download location and installation instructions. Make sure you pay careful attention to the specified requirements for both your computer and the Windows version you are using.

Installing the Windows driver for the Bridgemate III or Bridgemate II server

An important step is the installation of the Windows drivers for the Bridgemate III or Bridgemate II server. The drivers are installed automatically as part of the Bridgemate Control Software installation. If you wish to install the driver separately, the drivers can be found at the driver overview page. Make sure you first install the driver before connecting the server to the USB port of your computer. Make sure you read the driver download article thoroughly as it contains troubleshooting information for the driver as well.

A quick test to verify your setup

Once the software and the correct driver has been correctly installed, you are now ready to test your system. Connect the Bridgemate server to the USB port of your computer. A correctly powered Bridgemate server will show a green light on top of the device. Now start the Bridgemate Control Software manually by clicking on the program shortcut in the Windows Start menu (Windows Start -> All programs -> Bridgemate Pro -> Bridgemate Control Software). First the program will ask you which language should be used for the program's user interface. After selecting your language, the program will make contact to the Bridgemate server. After successful connection, you are asked to enter the geographical region which you are in. You can choose from: Europe, North America, Australia & New Zealand, Japan or Israel. In case you are in another region, choose the one which is closest to you. Bridgemate Control Software will now start, and you will see the main screen. In the upper left frame you find information about the server like regional and channel setting, and hardware and firmware version numbers. If you see that information, your setup is correct. You may now close BCS and configure your Bridgemates.

Configuring the Bridgemate scoring devices


Bridgemate III

Bridgemate III scoring devices are ready to use straight out of the box. To switch on the Bridgemate, press and hold the power button on the side for about one second. The LED on top will start flashing yellow, and the Bridgemate logo will appear on the screen, indicating that the device is starting up. After a few seconds, the main screen with the Bridgemate III logo will be displayed.
By default, the Bridgemate III uses flexible table assignment, allowing you to place the units randomly on any table in the session. When players start their Bridgemate, they simply select their table number to begin the session.
The Bridgemate is preconfigured for the Europe region and channel 0. Ensure that it operates on the same channel as your server. To change the channel, tap Settings in the upper-left corner, then select Network followed by Modify. Choose the desired region and channel, then press Back twice to exit the settings.


Bridgemate II

Each Bridgemate II comes with 2 AA batteries. Pay careful attention that you insert the batteries in the indicated direction. Switch on the Bridgemate by pressing OK key. You should see the Bridgemate main screen with the Bridgemate II logo.

Press the button below "SETUP" to enter the setup screen. Make sure the Bridgemate is set to the same region and channel as you have configured for the server. Move to Region using the keys below the up and down arrows and use + or - key to change the region. The channel can be reconfigured by pressing + or - as well, or by entering the number directly. An existing channel number can be erased using the Cancel key.

Each Bridgemate must be configured to a section and table number. There are three ways to configure section and table: fixed table assignment, select table by the players, and select table using scan mode. See the Bridgemate II manual chapter "Using the Bridgemates" for more information how to configure the section and table.

Once configuration has completed, you may leave the setup menu by pressing the button below "BACK".

Configuring your scoring program

To use Bridgemate, your scoring program must support the Bridgemate scoring system. Most modern scoring programs do, but since each program operates slightly differently, it’s important to consult the manual of your specific scoring program for detailed instructions.

Begin by creating a new session in your scoring program. If the program allows you to configure Bridgemate settings directly, make these adjustments before starting the session. Once your session is set up and the Bridgemate settings are configured, start the Bridgemates from within your scoring program. This action launches the Bridgemate Control Software, which automatically transfers all session data to the Bridgemate server and prepares the Bridgemates for use at the tables. You are now ready to start your game and use the Bridgemates during play.

Update history

11-11-2025 - Article published