My partner and I have played a modified form of one system (Standard American) for many years.
Bridge is quite similar to bid whist, as it evolved from it.
The evolution of 4-person trick-taking card games with a possible trump suit went like this: whist, bid whist, auction bridge, contract bridge
The difference between whist and bridge is that after the opening lead in bridge, one hand is exposed face up on the table (the dummy), and the partner of that hand directs the play of all 26 cards held by his or her partnership, while the two defenders play only their own 13 cards.