We want you to enjoy learning bridge, so our classes are relaxed, friendly and hopefully amusing. Every class focuses on practical exercises so there's plenty of time to get to know the other students and try things out for yourself.  We publish a course book to mirror the course and present questions on each topic.

Our foundation course assumes no knowledge of bridge.  All you need is curiosity, commitment, a reasonable memory and and your own email address.  The 24 three-hour lessons cover everything you need to play confidently at your local club. Those with bridge experience can join the course around lesson 4 but please contact me to discuss options.  There is a Tuesday afternoon class for club players that covers the course in more depth.  There is also a course book Acol From Scratch available direct from the school or from Amazon for £10, the Kindle edition will be out shortly.

Once you've enrolled you can attend any of our classes.  This means that if you need to miss a week you can take two lessons either the week before or the week after and keep up with the course.  When you've completed the foundation course you can take part in practice play sessions that ease you into club bridge and join an advanced course starting in April 2015.

You don't need a partner for lessons or practice play.

Here are some more reasons to choose us.

Your first lesson is a free trial; pay nothing if you decide bridge is not for you.

Foundation courses are scheduled for the following times, costing £60 for a six-lessons block.

Tuesdays at 7:30pm from the 23rd of September at Croydon Bowling Club

Wednesdays at 7:30pm from the 17th of September at South Croydon Sports Club.  

Tuesdays at 1pm from the 14th of October starting at lesson 4 for those who have played a little at South Croydon Sports Club.  

Catch up courses are available for those starting late.

To book or enquire email me at surreyschoolofbridge@gmail.com giving your name, phone number, the lesson you would like attend and whether you've played bridge. No experience of card or partner is needed.

Nigel Jones, Principal, MA (Cantab)

Nigel Jones is an EBU Accredited Teacher and Premier Master who was taught bridge at King's College Cambridge back in 1988.  He became coach of the college bridge team and played regularly for Cambridge University.  After leaving with a first in Chemistry he played at Cambridge Bridge Club and qualified for the National Swiss Teams final two years running.  After a few years out of the game due to family commitments, he's become a regular at bridge clubs in the Purley area and founded Surrey School of Bridge after a career in finance. 

• Bridge is the best game ever invented, challenging every aspect of the human psyche: logic, judgement, imagination, intuition, short and long term memory and empathy and social skills.

• It's the most popular card game in the world.

• Bridge is a uniquely social game. When you play bridge you typically meet at least 16 opponents in one session. I can't think of any other game where this is normal and it a great way to make friends.

• Bridge is a partnership game and it's quite normal to play with lots of different partners. It's a great way to get to know people better.

• Bridge is exciting and fun.  In my typical night's play there is usually friendly conversation, laughter, elation, and a little bit of fear to keeping me on my toes.

• Bridge is a challenge!  It has an amazing ability to surprise you and there is always something more you can learn.

• There is no luck in duplicate bridge because you're compared to other pairs who have played the same cards.

• Bridge can save your life! It's been shown that bridge players live longer than average and remain more active and mentally alert.

• Anyone can play against world champion players. For instance Zia Mahmood the 2009 World Champion played in the year end congress in London last year in events that anyone could enter.

• Age is no barrier to success at Bridge. Bob Hamman of the US won the world title in 2009 at the age of 71 and he continues to play in world class events. There are many other examples of older players at the very top level.

• Bridge is a game of skill where practice matters. The more you put in the more you'll get out.

• Bridge is fun to play even if you don't take it very seriously. There are many, many happy bridge players who play for a few hours a week.

• Every hand is a new opportunity. Even when you're having a bad session you can still play well on the next hand.

• Every fourth hand you are dummy giving you a break from the action.

• Bridge can be very cheap. You can play on line for free with anyone around the world. In your local club it costs about £3 on a regular club night. Often this includes tea and biscuits!

• Bridge is a great excuse to see Britain. There are bridge congresses scheduled most weekends throughout the year, all over the United Kingdom and they don't cost the earth.

• Bridge is international; you can see the world and play bridge. There are bridge cruises and holidays in nearly every country.