Modern no trump bidding is really slick. What with Stayman and transfers, even your lesser opponents can bid accurately to their optimum contract once one of them opens one no trump.
Few of your opponents, however, are comfortable with interference. Out the window goes their Staymans and their transfers, and now they have to wing it. The playing field becomes leveller.
This workshop teaches when and how to safely interfere once an opponent opens one no trump. There are three popular interference systems used at our club - DONT, Cappelletti, and Meckwell, and this workshop will teach them all.
After a bidding exercise using all three systems, participants will play up to 12 hands that practise interference bidding.
Regular partners may find it beneficial to attend this workshop as a pair.
Instructor: Malkin Howes
Level: Intermediate
Mode: ONLINE
Date: Monday, March 27, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members
It's hard to get a good result if you're in the wrong contract!
This five-week course is intended for those who have taken beginner lessons or those who have been away from the game for a while. Bridge bidding has changed significantly over the past few decades, and we're definitely not in Kansas anymore!
The course's topics include: opening in a suit, opening in no trump, responding, pre-empting, Stayman and Jacoby, Gerber, and Blackwood.
A binder with lessons and homework sheets is included in the fee.
The participants will be provided with up to three free plays for our games and bridge labs.
Instructor: Cindy Mahn
Level: Novice
Mode: In-person
Dates: Tuesday mornings, April 11, 18, 25, May 2, & May 9, 9:00 am - 11:30 am
Cost: $80 for members/ $90 for non-members
You hold: A2 K32 AQ987 Q43
What do you do when partner opens one diamond?
If two diamonds is 6-9 HCP and three diamonds is a limit raise and 3NT is 13-15 HCP, then you must find another bid. How do you find out if the best contract is 3NT, five diamonds, or six diamonds?
Learn more about inverted minors in this workshop.
Regular partners may find it beneficial to attend this workshop as a pair.
Instructor: Tom Ramsay
Level: Intermediate
Mode: In-person
Date: Thursday morning, April 13
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members
The bidding is over and your opponents have reached a contract of four hearts. You're on lead. What card should you play? Opening leads are the only card played while the dummy is still concealed, but it is the one advantage defenders have over declarers.
This workshop is for post-beginners and will help the participants decide which are in which suit is the preferred lead. Leads for both suit and no trump contracts will be provided.
The participants will be provided with up to three free plays for our games and bridge labs.
Instructor: Susan Lawton (The Answer Lady)
Level: Novice
Mode: In-person
Date: Friday morning, April 14, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members
A full splinter (for example, 1 heart Pass 4 diamonds) shows four-plus heart support, a singleton or void in diamonds, and 13+ HCP.
Mini-splinters (for example, 1 heart Pass 3 diamonds) are a variation of full splinters. They can be made on weaker hands as well as on game-forcing ones, and they can lead to game bids on hands without a lot of high card points.
For example, you open 1 heart with: AK2 KJ9873 8743 2 and partner bids 3 diamonds with 9+ HCP, and four hearts, you can be sure of a game if partner is minimum and have a possible slam if he has more. The effective use of mini-splinters can help you reach close games and find good slams. Learn more about splinters and mini-splinters in this workshop.
Regular partners may find it beneficial to attend this workshop as a pair.
Instructor: Tom Ramsay
Level: Intermediate
Mode: In-person
Date: Thursday morning, April 20, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members
Partner opens 1 diamond and your right-hand opponent overcalls 1 spade. You hold: 63 AQ9652 54 Q74.
How do you get your heart suit into the auction?
In standard bidding, 2 hearts is 10+ HCP and forcing. You're not strong enough for this. A negative double poses problems too.
You can solve this problem is you can make a non-forcing 2 hearts bid (a negative free bid). Find out the advantages and disadvantages of negative free bids in this workshop.
Regular partners may find it beneficial to attend this workshop as a pair.
Instructor: Tom Ramsay
Level: Intermediate
Mode: In-person
Date: Thursday morning, April 27, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members
Have you played against pairs who play Precision? Have you been curious? Befuddled? Do you want to expand your knowledge of other bidding systems or just understand how the Precision Bidding System works? Then this course is for you!
To quote Larry Cohen: "Precision is a wonderful (and in my opinion, easier than 'Standard') bidding system. If I were teaching beginners, I would want to start them with Precision - the easiest-to-learn bidding system."
Precision can be as complex or as simple as you want to make it - and you don't have to give up your favourite conventions!
Over the course of two sessions, you will:
Learn the basics of the Precision System;
Learn the similarities to Standard American and 2/1, and understand the differences;
Learn how to customize the system to your needs or style;
Learn how to defend against the Precision bidders - and as a Precision players, learn the defence to the defence; and
Practise what you learn.
Regular partners may find it beneficial to attend this module as a pair.
Instructor: John Hanemaayer
Level: Novice/Intermediate
Mode: In-person
Dates: Saturday mornings, May 6 and 13, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: $40 members/ $50 non-members
TBA
Instructor: Susan Lawton (The Answer Lady)
Level: Novice
Mode: In-person
Date: Friday morning, June 23, 9:30 am - noon
Cost: Free