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 |