Building your basic skills

New players start with the 6-week “Introduction to Bridge” which is designed to teach participants the mechanics of playing Bridge, as well as give them an understanding of basic bidding and play.

Bridge Basics

These lessons follow the 6-week "Introduction to Bridge" course.  They expand on the basic ideas already learnt, introduce some new ideas, and focus more on card playing skills. Each week there is a practice session that supports the lesson. Topics & schedule may be altered if the group progresses quicker than planned.

The Bridge Basics course is available online and face-to-face at East Lindfield. The same topics are covered in both courses. The Online course is taught by Jessica Brake, while the Face-to-Face course is taught by Liz Wilkinson.

Lesson notes and sample hands will be sent out each week. For more information, to register, or to order a recording (if you have registered for the Online option) - click here.

Below is our timetable for Bridge Basics Lessons that are scheduled for 2023. 

 

Course Days Time Venue Find out more
BRIDGE BASICS
Bridge Basics - Online Mondays 9:30 am Online Request Information
Responding to partner's opening of 1NT 10th April 9:30 am Online Request Information
How to count your tricks and develop your playing skills 17th April 9:30 am Online Request Information
Finding a fit in a Major suit, and focus on Responder 24th April 9:30 am Online Request Information
Developing a long suit for extra tricks and planning the play in a No Trump contract 1st May 9:30 am Online Request Information
Overcalling and the Takeout Double 8th May 9:30 am Online Request Information
Counting losers, playing and defending a suit contract 15th May 9:30 am Online Request Information
Play in your Major when you have a fit, more bidding when partner opens 1NT 22nd May 9:30 am Online Request Information
Making the best of your high cards, the fine art of Finessing 29th May 9:30 am Online Request Information
Being Competitive, getting into the bidding after an opponent has opened 5th June 9:30 am Online Request Information
Defending well, the hardest part of the game. 12th June 9:30 am Online Request Information
         
Bridge Basics - Face-to-Face Wednesdays 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Responding to partner's opening of 1NT 27th September 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
How to count your tricks and develop your playing skills 11th October 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Finding a fit in a Major suit, and focus on Responder 18th October 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Developing a long suit for extra tricks and planning the play in a No Trump contract 25th October 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Overcalling and the Takeout Double 1st November 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Counting losers, playing and defending a suit contract 8th November 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Play in your Major when you have a fit, more bidding when partner opens 1NT 15th November 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Making the best of your high cards, the fine art of Finessing 22nd November 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Being Competitive, getting into the bidding after an opponent has opened 29th November 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information
Defending well, the hardest part of the game. 6th December 2:00 pm East Lindfield Request Information

 

Five Essential Conventions Tuesdays 10:00 am East Lindfield Request Information
Stayman 10th October 10:00 am East Lindfield Request Information
Transfers 17th October 10:00 am East Lindfield Request Information
Strong 2 Clubs 24th October 10:00 am East Lindfield Request Information
Blackwood 31st October 10:00 am East Lindfield Request Information
Pre-empts 14th November 10:00 am East Lindfield Request Information

 

With this beginner program complete, ideally, players now spend some time playing Supervised Bridge and consolidating what they have learnt so far. When they are ready, their next set of lessons is “Build on the Basics”. This is an ideal course for Bridge players who are returning to the game after a long break. By the end of “Build on the Basics”, most players have moved up to play in the Rookie game.

 

Build on the Basics

These lessons are suitable for those who have been playing for around 3 months to a year, or who have come back to Bridge after a long break.  The course is being taught face to face at our Willis venue in Middle Cove, on Thursdays at 1:30 pm.

There are 20 topics in total, as follows:

Build on the Basics Thursdays 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
1NT/2NT Openings and Planning NT Contracts 2nd March 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Responding to 1NT with a suit, Stayman Part 1 9th March 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
No Trumps Rebids 16th March 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Focus on Defence 23rd March 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Bidding - Supporting Partner 30th March 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Responder's First Priorities and Opener Rebids 13th April 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Planning and Entry Management 20th April 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Opening and 2 Suited Hands 27th April 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Responder's NT Bids 4th May 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Defence and Leads 11th May 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Weak Twos 18th May 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Pre-empts at the 3 Level 25th May 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
2C Game Force Opening and 2D Response 1st June 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Counting and Dumping Losers 8th June 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Overcalls, Part 1 15th June 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Overcalls, Part 2 22nd June 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Takeout Double, Part 1 29th June 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Takeout Double, Part 2 13th July 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Stayman Part 2 20th July 1:30 pm Willis Request Information
Transfers 27th July 1:30 pm Willis Request Information