2008 Fall Beginner Bridge

Yesterday was our last official class. I want to tell you how much I have enjoyed teaching this class and how proud I am of your progress. In just 9 weeks you have learned how to play duplicate bridge. This is just outstanding, CONGRATULATIONS to each of you.

As previously discussed, on Saturday, Dec 13 we will have a beginner bridge game at Sun City. This game will be all new players and will be conducted as a standard duplicate game. I will be there helping to run the game and helping you get acclimated to duplicate bridge.

American Contract Bridge League (ACBL)
I have posted a number of links from ACBL on our blog. In additon I have added a link to the instructional software on Learn to Play Bridge. This software is FREE to download to your computer. This software takes a different approach teaching you how to play bridge from the view of playing a hand of bridge which is great since most of us teach from the approach of how to bid a hand. If you stay in duplicate, you will want to join ACBL the governing body of bridge in North America.

Hilton Head Island Bridge Club (HHI)
I have posted on this blog the games and teaching schedules for HHI. I have given your names and email addresses to Kathie Walsh who teaches a Friday morning workshop of Beyond Basics. I have posted on the blog the education schedule for 2009 and specifically Kathie’s Friday morning schedule. I know Kathie has already sent you an email on her workshops. Don’t forget HHI sponsors several games a week with mini-lessons before each game.

Okatie Duplicate Bridge Club (Okatie)
For those who live in Sun City, I will post on the blog ASAP the games and teaching schedules for Okatie Duplicate in Sun City. I have given your names and email address to Peggy Gibson who directs and teaches beginner and intermediate classes at Okatie. If you have not already I am sure you will receive emails from Peggy on education opportunities and games at Sun City.

I will keep this blog … please continue to access it. If you have questions you can call or email me. Questions, I receive will be posted on the blog for all to read.

HHI 2009 Workshops

As I have already posted ↓ see below, beginning in January 2009 the HHI Bridge Club will have three games/sections a week devoted to beginners (0-20 Masterpoints).

Monday, December 8 is our last teaching class on 2C opening bids and how to bid "big hands". On Saturday, December 13 is the ACBL Introduction game at Sun City. I will be there to help with the game in case you have any questions.

I wish I could continue to work with you in 2009, but the Bridge Club has a program that will help you continue to learn and grow. The Bridge Club conducts numerous workshops to help you improve your game. Kathie Walsh teaches a beginner plus workshop on Friday morning called Beyond Basics. I have already talked with Kathie and will supply her with your names and email addresses. I hope you will continue your bridge education and enjoy a lifetime of enjoyment playing bridge.

click here ↓ for schedule
HHI Bridge Club 2009 Education Schedule
Beyond Basics 2009

ACBL

The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) is the governing body of bridge throughout North America. Representing its 160,000 members the ACBL supports 3200 bridge clubs and 1100 tournaments with more than 3 million tables in play annually at local clubs and tournaments and more than 300,000 tables online. Below are links to ACBL resources ...

http://www.acbl.org/
ACBL Brochure

How to Play Bridge
How to Keep Score
An Introduction to Duplicate
Commonly Used Conventions
Terms and Definitions

HHI Beginner Games

As I announced at last week's class, beginning January 2009 the HHI Bridge Club will be running 3 games a week dedicated to beginners (Novice Games). Listed below are the games and start times with name/phone of the director that will be running each of these games. If you plan on participating in one of these games you should be at the game some 15-20 minutes early to register ($7.00/player) and find a place to play. If you have general questions you can always call me 363-6416. If you have questions re: a specific game you should call the director of the game.

Monday, 6:30 pm Lesson (Free) 7:00 pm Game
Maurice Cordray 689-5831

Thursday, 9:00 am
Peter Seery 363-4027

Saturday, 1:00 pm
Maurice Cordray 689-5831

Saturday, December 13

Our original schedule was to play a “bridge game” during our last class on Monday, December 15. This schedule was made thinking our class might be larger, with only 3 tables I have been working to find alternatives where we can play with other new bridge players.

While I hope to schedule a game at the HHI Bridge Club, my friend and bridge partner Peggy Gibson is teaching two large classes of beginner bridge at Sun City and has invited our class and a class of youth at St. Gregory Catholic School to a special game. Peggy will host a beginner bridge game in the new “card room” at Sun City on Saturday, December 13 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge for playing. This will be a lot of fun … a game just for you and other new bridge players.

Next week’s class will be on "play of the hand" techniques. In addition, we will learn how to score a game and how to move from one table to another to play different opponents. Come prepared next week to play and get ready for December 13.

Jacoby Transfers

Here are the class notes from the 'white board' on transfers and responder's second bid to show values and the number of cards held in the transfer suit. Use these notes in combination with the Jacoby Transfer write up passed out during class.

click here ↓ for
Transfers Class Notes

Karen's Bridge Library

Following are links to Karen's Bridge Library published by Karen Walker bridge teacher and author. The "Introduction" document gives an introduction to bridge bidding and the Basics document gives an outline to Standard American bridge bidding.

click here ↓ for
Karen's Bridge Library
Introduction
Bidding Basics