Portland Bridge Club
Lessons
Learn to Play Bridge

We resume this popular series of lessons for those of you who are restarting bridge after a long hiatus, or starting from scratch. This 8-week series kicks off Mon. Oct. 3 at 7 pm and continues through Mon. Nov. 21.  

We focus on card play first, bidding second, to help make the bidding make sense. Each class consists of a lesson and then guided play on 4-6 hands that help you explore and reinforce lesson concepts.

Class 1 - Introduction to Mini-Bridge (Oct. 3)

  • Topics include: Dummy Play, Terminology, Leads, and High Card Points

Class 2 - Card Play Techniques I (Oct. 10)

  • Topics include: Visualization, Sure vs Potential Tricks, and Entries 

Class 3 - Card Play Techniques II (Oct. 17)

  • Topics include: Planning the Play, Finessing, and Power vs Length Tricks

Class 4 - Opening NT (Oct. 24)

  • Topics include: How Auctions Work, Requirements for Opening NT, Responding to 1NT

Class 5 - Opening 1 of a Major (Oct. 31)

  • Topics include: Trump, Ruffing, Requirements for Opening 1 or 1♠ , Raising Partner's Major Suit Opener

Class 6 - Opening 1 of Minor (Nov. 7)

  • Topics include: Requirements for Opening 1♣  or 1, Responding to Partner's Minor Suit Opener

Class 7 & 8 - Additonal Concepts and Play (Nov. 14 & 21)

  • Topics include: Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, Preempts, Overcalls, and 2♣ opener

When: Mondays 7-9 pm

Where: Sandy location

Cost: $120/person for the 8-week series

Bid, Play, Learn

Popular instructor David Castles teaches this weekly class intended for beginners or anyone who wants to sharpen their skills. Each class has a theme, with a short lesson followed by bidding and playing 6-8 hands that explore the theme. Students also are assigned homework that will introduce them to the following week's theme. The environment is friendly, relaxing, and nurturing. Typical themes include Preempts, Overcalls, Transfers, Stayman, and others. 

No pre-registration is required, and you can just show up and David will be happy to see you. To prepare in advance, contact David and he will send you the prior week's homework: davidc@portlandbridgeclub.com.

When: Thursdays 4:30-6:30 pm

Where: Sandy location

Cost: $20 for a single lesson or $75 for five

Friday Night Mini-Lesson

Each week prior to the Mentor/Mentee game, we discuss an interesting topic or hand from the previous week's game.

When: Fridays 6:30 pm

Where: Sandy location

Cost: Free. Smiles appreciated.