Helensburgh Bridge Club, Bridge Club, Helensburgh, Rhu, Cardross, Dunbarton, Rosneath, Clynder, Glasgow, Argyll, Dunbartonshire, West of Scotland, Scotland

Helensburgh Bridge Club

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Please note that the f2f match on the 8th April will be played at the RNCYC in Rhu. Usual times apply.

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Next steps

'Next steps' course information

The ‘Next steps’ course is for students who have completed the ‘first steps’ course or are playing ‘social’ bridge with friends or in local clubs and want to sharpen their skills for more competitive club play. The course is split into 2 terms, each with 10 teaching sessions and two ‘play and learn’ sessions. Each lesson will take around two hours, split 50/50 between teaching and practise play on BBO, using practise hands on the topic of study. At the end of the course, you should feel comfortable playing online bridge or at a club, in club competitions and the entry level of the SBU Bronze competitions. The topics covered are shown below.

If you have a question, or want to check your suitability for this course, please fill in the Enquiry form on the Enquiries and booking page. Course dates are shown on the course booking form. All classes offered are run, subject to demand. If you want to book yourself onto a ‘next steps’ course, then use the link above.

Lesson	Term 1	Topics covered	Lesson	Term 2	Topics covered
1	Return to openers rebid	Change of suit rebid. Bidding a second suit to show length in the first one.	11	Bidding after opening 1 of a suit	Following the logic of our bidding system rather than follow rules blindly.
2	The play in NT contracts	Planning the play of a complete hand in NT. Correct play of the hand in NT	12	Return to Stayman	Use of Stayman with game going hands. Use of Stayman with weak hands. Difference between Stayman and Transfers.
3	The play in Trump contracts	Planning the play of a complete hand in a a trump contract. Postponing drawing trumps.	13	Weak Two openings	Introduce weak 2’s. Responses to weak 2 openers and coping with interference.
4	Penalty doubles & redoubles	Penalising opponents using doubles and redoubles. How to score doubled and redoubled contracts.	14	Defensive bidding	Review overcalling principles and expand to more situations.
5	Defence – the opening lead	Refine the choice of opening lead.	15	Return to the takeout double	Revise the takeout double and look at the differences between takeout and penalty doubles.
6	The 2NT opening bid	Revise structure of NT bidding and opening 2NT.	16	More declarer play	Revise card play and introducing ruffing and leading towards unsupported honours.
7	The strong 2♣ opening bid	Strong opening bids and replies. Responses to a 2♣ bid	17	More on defence	Revise defence techniques and how to take more tricks in defence.
8	Pre-emptive bidding	Introduction to pre-emptive bidding and overcalls. Responding to partners pre-emptive bid.	18	Limit responses in NT	Develop bidding skills. Limit bids. How partner get information from bids we don’t make.
9	The search for the 8 card major fit	Why we look for a 4-4 or 3-5 8 card major suit.	19	Card play – common combinations	Advance preparation in declarer play. Best ways of playing common card combinations.
10	More on hand evaluation	Revisit how we decide the strength of our hand and adjust for distributional strength.	20	Sacrifice bidding	When to sacrifice and when not to.
	‘Play and learn’ Sessions	Play of prepared hands on BBO to revise and consolidate what you have learned so far.		‘Play and Learn’ sessions	Two sessions to revise and practise what you have learned.

To see samples of the course materials, click or tap on the links:

All sample materials are in pdf format, so you won’t see the animations in the presentations, but you will be able to see
the content.

Lesson 3 Next steps presentation

Lesson 3 Next steps student notes

Lesson 3 Next steps practise hands

Lesson 3 Next steps example hands

Lesson 3 Next steps quiz (without answers!)

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