Now we have started to move from a NT opening into a suit contract we need to look at declarer play techniques in a suit contract - tonight's main theme.

I am very pleased to welcome Evelyn to the course.

Tonight we practised applying the rules for opening 1 of a suit and limit bid responding with a major suit fit (including nominal HCPs for shortage in side suits.  Further bidding knowledge was added - how to respond when you have a strong unbalanced hand and partner has opened 1NT.  The homework for this week is a bidding quiz on the latter topic.

Tonight we began to look at how a partnership may find a suit contract.  We covered the weak takeout from a 1NT opening, the rules of opening with an unbalanced hand and how to respond with a major suit "fit".  The practical bidding exercise was very popular but I do sense some reluctance to draw trumps!  Hopefully this will be ironed out next week.

Tonight we were focussing on play in a NT contract with particular emphasis on learning about the "finesse" - what it is (leading a SMALL card towards an honour, hoping that the honour that will beat yours is in the inbetween defender's hand) and when it's sensible to take the risk and use it. (A finesse only has a 50/50 chance of success every time you play one).

Some additional play sessions have been arranged at no charge for the less experienced players.  I'm looking forward to hosting these next Thursday and the Thursday after.

Gillian

This evening was all about the play.  Play as declarer in a no trump contract.  Specifically we looked at how to create entries by overtaking, discarding an honour, and by deliberately losing a trick to use up the opposition's cards.  We also identified the "danger hand" and the need to disrupt communication between the defence players by, for example, using the rule of 7 and by choosing which defence player you lose the lead to. We had a brief look at the finesse but more on this next week.  For defence play we added more depth to opening leads in a NT contract - looking at what are broken and interior sequences and which card you would lead from one.  We also added a little to our bidding knowledge - how to bid a balanced hand with 15-19HCPs.

Gillian

I was very pleased to welcome "Toffee" to our workshop this evening.  She behaved very well, sleeping through the last hour.   

During this workshop the human participants considered the impact of the duplicate scoring system on each partnership's bidding and play strategy.  Using the internet to view the Mechanics club results, we saw how influential partnership play is in defence and how that can have a bigger effect on the end result than declarer play.  By playing hands we saw the need for "length over strength" when in a suit contract and the benefits of playing in no trumps v. a minor suit contract.  There was a practical on opening leads in no trump contracts and we began thinking about the use of probabilites in declarer play.  The first of the "Really Easy" books was distributed and we even managed to squeeze in a little bit of bidding - 1NT openings, balanced hand responses and how to judge whether your hand is "maximum" when partner responds 2NTs.  Next week we are focusing on declarer play in No Trumps. 

Gillian

Last night's workshop was great fun with 7 people challenging themselves with "end puzzles" and more or less successfully completing a 1NT identification practical.  If you fancy it, it's not too late to join in.  But this course is not for absolute beginners - you need to have played a little.  If you can understand the taster session summary you would be okay to join in and I hope you get in touch. 

You can find the taster session summary by clicking on the "taster session summary" on the left.

Gillian

"Loved it - teaching, environment, participants - great !"

"Motivating, extremely well taught"                       "Thoroughly enjoyed every session"

"Excellent.  Well paced.  Well planned.  Pro-active/lots of learner involvement.  Theory and practise balanced correctly."

"The handouts are easy to understand.  Better than any bridge book I've read."

Number of students: 8 - 16       Course Length: 30 weeks    

6th September - 13th December 2016,  then 3rd January - 11th April 2017

Price: 3 terms of 10 lessons for £62 per term.

The first session on Tuesday 6th September gives an introduction to the many aspects of bridge. This session is available so you can decide whether or not bridge is for you before committing yourself to the first term’s fees.

Course Description: A fun, active approach to learning bridge in a social setting with lots of practise sessions and the opportunity to make new friends.

Learning activities include: formal instruction, group work, quizzes, practise play, discussion, practical demonstration, practical tasks, puzzles and competitions.

Homework: About 30 - 60 minutes each week reviewing the last lesson and completing quizzes and practical exercises. You are encouraged to play once a week in addition to the classes.

Monday evenings at the Club 7pm-10pm (£2.50 non-members, £2 for members) and/or Thursday mornings 10am – 12.30pm for £1.50 are your practise sessions – please come whenever you can!

Course aims: To provide you with a solid foundation of the standard English Acol playing techniques and bidding system in a supportive and relaxed atmosphere.

If you are relatively new to the game, or maybe you've played for a while but would like to learn properly, you may be interested in our next novices' class which starts  September 2017 (subject to demand).  An overview of the course is given above.  We will be covering all aspects of the game at what the EBU calls "foundation" level.  As with any skill, building a strong foundation will lead to many enjoyable hours at the bridge table.

We will be covering the skills of bidding, of playing the cards as "declarer" and the skills and techniques of working as a defence partnership. 

Bridge is very much a partnership game - from learning what your partner's bids mean and responding to them with your own bids in a clear and informative way, to deciding what is the best "contract" for the partnership to play in, or whether this time it would be better for the opposition to play.  Bridge is about earning the best score for your side which may be related to the number of tricks you make or the number of tricks you take from the opposition.  Very early in the course we cover scoring and strategy and from the very first hour you will have playing cards in your hands.

People are often surprised by how much is involved in defence play - how much you can tell your partner about the cards in your hand through the cards you play.  We call this special type of card play: opening leads, attitude signals, discard signals and suit preference signals.  In addition, there is strategy behind the card you play whether you are the second person to play to a trick or the "third hand".  All this will be covered on the course.

Perhaps having read this you are wondering whether you will be able to cope?  Well, if you have played cards before you will certainly find that experience will help, and if you've played a trick taking game such as whist it will give you an advantage.  But plenty of people come to the game never having played before.  If you fall into this category free "absolute beginners" sessions will be available during August.  Just get in touch with me.  These sessions will get you comfortable with handling the cards and with the organisation of the game and what is expected of you at the playing table. 

Whatever your level of experience you will be welcomed, encouraged, supported and challenged on the course.  The course is very "hands-on" and from a participant's perspective feels much more like training than being at school.  (Some reviews from previous participants are given above.)  Having said that, there are some things that you simply have to learn off by heart and you will need to do a bit of "swotting" at home - which is, after all,  good for your brain!

So what is the financial commitment?  To complete the whole course of 30 lessons you will pay a total of £186.  You do not have to pay anything until the end of the first lesson.  You can come along to the first lesson in September (you have to book your place!) to dip your toe in the water and see if it's right for you.  If at the end of the first lesson you don't want to continue, that's fine.  If you do want to carry on then you will be asked to pay £62 to cover the first set of 10 lessons.  You pay the next £62 mid - November for the next 10 lessons and a further £62 at  then end of January 2018 for the final 10 lessons.  The fee covers all the course materials and handouts and includes the course workbooks and tea/coffee.  You will only need to bring a pen and scrap paper.

What is the time commitment?  In addition to the Tuesday night sessions you will be given "homework" which may be something to read, or something to learn, or a puzzle or quiz to complete.  This will take around 45 minutes to do.  It makes sense to support your learning by also playing bridge at the club once a week if you can do so. 

If you have any questions, do get in touch.

Gillian

Mansfield Mechanics Bridge Club have agreed that we can continue to use their facilities on a Tuesday evening.  Our beginners will therefore have all the advantages of learning in a proper bridge room.  The bridge room is on the ground floor and the Club has it's own car park - it couldn't be easier!  Their web address is www.bridgewebs.com/mansfieldmechanics

This is probably a good place to mention that there is a novice players session on Thursday mornings from 10am to 12.30pm.  It costs just £1.50 per person and is a gentle sociable way to get some playing practise outside a formal competition.  If you fancy it, just turn up 5 minutes or so before the start time or if you prefer, telephone me first so we know to expect you.

Gillian                             01623 635725

Mansfield School of Bridge is run by Gillian Rand.  Gillian and her husband Michael own and run Bridleways Holiday Homes & Guest House in Forest Town, Mansfield. www.stayatbridleways.co.uk

Michael and Gillian have been playing bridge at the Mechanics Club for the last seven years and hope to introduce more people to a fun and absorbing pass-time.   Assessed by the EBU as "outstanding", Gillian is a professional member of EBUTA - the English Bridge Union Teacher's Association.