One player spreads the deck face down, and each player selects a card. The player with the highest card deals the first hand, gets their choice of seats and decks of cards; the player with the second-highest card becomes the dealer's partner. If two players draw a card of the same rank,the rank of the suit breaks the tie. Players may not draw touching cards or from the ends of the deck. After the first unit of play, the rubber, the players draw again, with the understanding that two players may not play again as partners for the second and third rubbers.

The dealer shuffles the first deck seven times and offers it to his right opponent to cut. The cut must be at least four cards deep, and must leave at least four cards on the table. After the cut, the dealer distributes the cards face down, one at a time from the top of the deck, clockwise, starting with the player to the left. Meanwhile, the dealer's partner shuffles the second deck seven times and places the deck to her right. When the first hand is finished, the deal passes to the left. The new dealer retrieves the fresh deck sitting at his left, and starts the cycle over.