Do shivers run down your back when you realize that you are going to have to declare a no trump contract? Then this course is for you! It's a five-week course that will take the mystery out of declaring no trump contracts.
On the first day, you will learn to count your tricks and look for ways to make up the shortfall - by developing a long suit, by promoting intermediate cards, and by finessing.
On the second day, you will learn about holding up your stoppers in the opponents' suit.
On the third day, you will learn how to review the auction and analyze the opening lead to locate the missing cards.
On the fourth day, you will learn about managing entries - by overtaking, creating entries, unblocking, and ducking.
On the fifth day, you will put it all together (CRAM) by Counting your tricks, Reviewing the auction, Analyzing the lead, and Making a plan.
Keen students might consider acquiring the supplementary textbook Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand by Barbara Seagram and David Bird. It is available from Amazon for $22.95. As well, our club has a few copies for sale at $20 (we get a discount from Barbara).
Instructor: Lynda Burnett
Level: Novice
Venue: Our teaching room
Dates: Wednesday mornings, October 4, 11, 18, 25, and November 1, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $75 members/ $95 non-members
The dummy comes down and in a side suit you have:
Dummy: A762
Declarer: QJ53
How do you play this suit to maximize the tricks you take? Think about it......
If you said to lead the Q or J or if you said to lead towards the Q or J, then you need to take this workshop. Learn how to play card combinations correctly and earn that extra trick.
The workshop will start with simple finessing situations and advance to frozen suits, safety plays, and more complicated plays that require the knowledge of card distribution percentages. The lesson is suitable for all novice and intermediate players.
PS If you attend, you will learn why playing the ace at Trick 1 is the correct play.
Instructor: Stephen Carpenter
Level: Novice
Venue: Online
Date: Friday, October 13, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members
This workshop will demonstrate that all point counts are not equal, especially in suit contracts.
Adding up your high-card points when you pick up your hand is just the start. First, you must establish whether they are good high-card points or bad high-card points. Furthermore, your hand often gets better or worse as the bidding progresses.
The participants in this workshop will play 12 suit contract hands where they are challenged to bid to the right level.
Regular partners may find it beneficial to attend this workshop as a pair.
Instructor: Malkin Howes
Level: Intermediate
Venue: Our teaching room
Date: Friday, November 3, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members
This workshop follows on from the Hand (Re)Evaluation workshop on November 3. The participants in that workshop learned that the initial hand evaluation usually changes as the bidding progresses.
This workshop will look at what to think about when your bidding partner invites you to game - in both no trump and suit contracts - including the use of help suit game tries.
The participants in this workshop will play up to 16 hands where they have to decide whether or not to accept their partner's invite.
Regular partners may find it beneficial to attend htis workshop as a pair.
Instructor: Malkin Howes
Level: Intermediate
Venue: Our teaching room
Date: Friday, November 10
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members
This workshop wll teach the principles of scoring individual hands, starting with rubber and Chicago bridge played around the kitchen table, through regular pairs games at the club, and culminating with Swiss Team events.
Attention will be paid to vulnerability, doubles, and some simple strategies to improve your scores. Several hands will be examinated to illustrate the lessons.
Instructor: Jack Cole
Level: Beginner/Novice
Venue: Online
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members