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 learned, 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 face-to-face at East Lindfield and will be advertised below.

Below is our timetable for Bridge Basics Lessons that are scheduled for 2024. 

CourseDaysTimeVenueFind out more
BRIDGE BASICS
Bridge Basics - Face-to-FaceWednesdays9:30 amThe WillisRequest Information
Counting losers, playing and defending a suit contract 7th Aug9:30amThe WillisRequest Information
Play in your Major when you have a fit, more bidding when partner opens 1NT14th Aug9:30amThe WillisRequest Information
Making the best of your high cards, the fine art of Finessing 21st Aug9:30amThe WillisRequest Information
Being Competitive, getting into the bidding after an opponent has opened 28th Aug9:30amThe WillisRequest Information
Defending well, the hardest part of the game.4th Sep9:30amThe WillisRequest Information

With this beginner program complete, ideally, players now spend some time playing Supervised Bridge and consolidating what they have learned so far. When they are ready, their next set of lessons is “The 5 Essentials”. 

The Five Essential Conventions

This is an ideal course for Bridge players who are returning to the game after a long break or those that have completed the beginner program and have been playing Supervised Bridge and consolidating what they have learned. When they are ready, their next set of lessons is “The Five Essentials”.  By the end of “The Five Essentials”, most players have moved up to play in the Rookie game.  The course is outlined below:

Five Essential Conventions

Wednesdays

9:30 amThe WillisRequest Information
Stayman

When partner opens 1NT and you have 4 cards in a major, how can you cleverly find out if partner has 4 in the same suit?. This is a must have convention for every bridge player, beginners included!

16th Oct

9:30 amThe WillisRequest Information
Transfers

Partner opens 1NT and you have 5 cards in the major, learn how to invite partner to play your suit from their hand.

23rd Oct

9:30 amThe WillisRequest Information
Strong 2Club Suit with solid fill

WOW! That is a lot of points. Learn how to tell partner that they need to keep bidding til you have game. Licence to describe your hand.

30th Oct

9:30 amThe WillisRequest Information
Blackwood

How to find out how many Aces or Kings partner has? Is it worth you bidding slam?
Learn how to work it all out.

6th Nov

9:30 amThe WillisRequest Information
Pre-empts

Not enough points to open, but you have six, seven or eight cards in one suit!  Learn how to be a menace and make life difficult for the opps.

13th Nov

9:30 amThe WillisRequest Information

 

And for my next trick

The aim of the course is to establish a solid grounding in Declarer Play - creating a smart plan of attack, establishing your suits, knowing how to use your trumps for best effect and creating extra tricks. This is aimed at Supervised and Rookie players.

And For My Next TrickSaturdays10:00 amEast LindfieldRequest Information
It's not magic: 

Know where your tricks come from

7th Sept10:00 amEast LindfieldRequest Information
Aces Kings Quacks: 

Make the most of your High Cards

14th Sept10:00 amEast LindfieldRequest Information
A bag of tricks: 

Turn your loing suits into tricks

21st Sept10:00 amEast LindfieldRequest Information
Tricks of the Trade: 

Use the power of trumping for extra tricks

28th Sept10:00 amEast LindfieldRequest Information