1. To distribute the 52 cards, one card to each player in turn starting with the player on the left of the dealer.
2. The set of four hands dealt.
Dealing precedes the bidding and play. At duplicate, most dealing occurs at the start of a session and (unless a relay table means some boards are not in play) players do not deal in later rounds. In some types of competition, the players do not deal at all: the director presents the boards with the cards already dealt.