Hello Josee ,

LOVE IS IN THE AIR! 💞

Sunday morning in Toronto, the sun is shining, birds chirping in the distance, a robin just landed on the cedar outside my office window, a jogger passed me by yesterday wearing shorts and a tshirt, and some trees already showing spring buds. Is this really winter? I am a Fall and Winter kinda gal. Nothing makes me more alive than the sound of crunching dry leaves under my foot, that crisp autumn air , mounds of snow to climb over, blistering cold temperatures, snowshoeing across the lake and making snow angels. I come alive in these conditions. Yet, it is awfully nice not to have to bundle up to go outside, to be able to run to the corner store in my running shoes, and avoid the treacherous walks on our narrow Toronto streets. Although I miss the real winter that has never come this year, I am quite grateful for the sunshine and the sound of those birds so early in the year. Quite timely on the eve of Valentine's day, wouldn't you say?

I am just headed out the door to go play bridge. This will be my third time playing bridge in person this week, and with three different partners. Yesterday, I played bridge with my friend Margot. We had last played together maybe 8 years ago. Can you believe this.  I found our convention card which was quite sophisticated. So many conventions and a few gadgets. We met early to go over it, and cut down the conventions and special agreements by at least a third. We finished 3^rd overall in a fairly strong field. As the afternoon went on, I was reminded of how much I have always liked playing with Margot. Watching her play the hand is a thing of beauty. The opening lead is made, and she sits there, looking at all the suits in the dummy, thinking and planning. Her play of the hand is spectacular. Our defence was very good. We communicated well with eachother. She chose some opening leads that were absolutely brilliant. But what we both agreed on at the end of the day is how much we enjoy being across the table from each other. We laugh all the time! 

Thursday I played with Linda, and it was also an enjoyable day. This is a relatively new partnership, and we are still finding our groove. I gave up some extra tricks due to lack of concentration which ended up being costly. I miserably misplayed a hand when I should have known better. I had to remind myself that the hand was over, I couldn't change the result (read bottom board!) and move on. How was I able to move on? By knowing that Linda was not sitting there in judgement.

As soon as I finish writing this, I am out the door to go meet Danielle to play at a sectional tournament. Danielle and I have only played once together but had a great day. Danielle is just lovely to play with. She keeps the same demeanour whether we get a good result or a bad result. Our convention card is so simple. Very, very basic. But that means fewer reasons to misunderstand eachother. For me, at this stage of my life, playing bridge has to equal enjoying myself and being in good company. I am too old and too busy for cranky people. When I leave this world, noone will remember me by my bridge results , but I hope that they remember how I behaved and treated people.

A week ago I had the opportunity to introduce of group of 24 people to the game of bridge. We did this in 5 hours and it was such fun that I have decided to add this to my schedule. Learn to Play Bridge in 5 hours - A tasting menu! If you have friends pondering and wondering what this game is about, read below! I will offer this class in March. Space is limited!

Speaking of bridge, I invested in the book Method Bridge by Matt Granovetter. It is a good size book dedicated to helping bridge players remember shapes and missing cards by using Method Acting and using famous theatre plays and actors to help remember what has been played. Despite the rather seemingly dry topic, Granovetter approaches this with a lot of humour. He is a very good writer besides being a brilliant bridge player.

Time to sign off and head out. There are many bridge opportunities mentioned in this newsletter. I am particularly excited about the upcoming March pre-recorded lesson on splinters and the Learn to Play Bridge in 5 hours!

I look forward to hearing from you . Happy Valentine's day and have a fun Super Bowl Sunday!

✨ MY SPECIAL MINI-LESSON ✨

A teaser to the upcoming March recorded lesson

Enjoy this short lesson: Today's video focuses on splinters, which are bids that promise excellent trump support. Opener and responder can both use this convention.

The example shows the use of a splinter bid with a singleton or void in diamonds and a strong hand. By providing this information, how the hands fit between the two partners can help determine the potential for slam. This is a sneak peek into my upcoming lesson, scheduled for release in March.

Just click on this link and always let me know if you have any questions: https://youtu.be/cQwaeh5zV9Y

Hope you'll enjoy this video and stay tuned for more information on this lesson!

Hint: On Youtube, press the letter F on the keyboard to watch the video in Fullscreen.

LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE IN 5 HOURS!

A TASTING MENU

There is this great card game called Bridge. Have you heard about it? Perhaps your parents or grandparents played. You were asked if you played at university. Your friends who are now all retired have taken up the game. But is this for you? 

If you are at all curious about this game but have some reservation whether you will enjoy it, here is a wonderful opportunity to be exposed in one day to the basics of the game. All taught with cards on the table. Just broad strokes, small bites of knowledge fed in an easy relaxed manner.

At the end of the day, YOU can make an educated decision if you are willing to invest more time in learning more.

Join me, Josée Hammill, on March 13^th, 2024 from 10 to 3 pm, and give me a chance to share with you my passion for this wonderful game.

• Location: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church, 105 Wilson Avenue
• Date: Wednesday, March 13^th - from 10 am to 3 pm (bring your lunch)
• Price: ONLY $55 – and it includes Barbara Seagram’s Bridge Basics Book

And a special bonus ! Should you decide that this game is for you, register for any of our future beginners bridge series and receive a $30 discount from the full registration price of $240.

Space is very limited – reserve quickly for this amazing opportunity.

To register, please contact Josée at mjhammill@rogers.com, or just reply to this email.

Payment: Send by etransfer after I have confirmed your registration, to mjhammill@rogers.com or by cheque mailed to 1717 Avenue Road, Suite 418, Toronto, Ontario, M5M0A2.

IN-PERSON SPRING SCHEDULE

Basics Beginners Bridge Series

with Lorraine Eaglesham

Over the course of 8 weeks, you will learn all the basic elements of the game of bridge: how to take tricks, how to work with a partner, how to open the bidding in a suit and in No Trump, how to respond, how to compete, and much, much more. During each lesson you can put theory into practice by playing bridge hands, right from the very first lesson! Ready to join the fun? Enroll now to secure your spot, and let the bridge adventure begin. Here are more in-depth details:

DATES: Starts Wednesday, April 3rd (for 8 weeks), 1 to 3 pm.

PRICE: $240. Includes taxes, Barbara Seagram Basic Bridge textbook, PDF of PowerPoint presentations and online recordings.

After an extensive career in education as high school teacher and principal, Lorraine decided to teach bridge when she retired. She's a passionate teacher, and uses humour to help get the concepts through. Her delivery of the material and care for her students cannot be surpassed. Lorraine recently earned her certification as Best Practices Teacher. She is a born teacher. In fact she was recently telling me that at the young age of 6, she would sit her 4 year old sister down with her dolls and insist on teaching them what she had learned in school that day. To top it all Lorraine is also French Canadian. So what’s not to LOVE ! Spring Beginners will be in excellent hands!

Intermediate I Bridge Series

with Josée Hammill

Bridge Basics Graduates, Take the Next Step

Are you ready to take your bridge journey to the next level? Whether you're feeling a bit rusty and need a refresher or you've recently graduated from Bridge Basics lessons, the Intermediate I Bridge Series is your ticket to a renewed sense of excitement and skill in the world of bridge. 

Dive deeper into the basic foundation of bridge, solidify your bidding and playing skills.

DATES: Tuesday, March19^th, for 7 weeks, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

PRICE: $210. Includes taxes, Barbara Seagram Intermediate I textbook, PDF of PowerPoint presentations and online recordings.



Intermediate II Bridge Series

with Josée Hammill

Elevate Your Play to New Heights!

This Intermediate II Bridge Course is designed to elevate your game, offering a comprehensive exploration of advanced techniques and strategies to take your bridge skills to new heights.

If you've been building your bridge skills and are hungry for more advanced techniques, this course is your gateway to a realm of sophistication and strategic mastery.

Explore Advanced Bidding and Playing Techniques: Ever wondered about the secrets behind weak two bids, strong 2 Club bids, or slam bidding? In this course, we unravel these mysteries, empowering you to confidently navigate the bidding process and make precise decisions that can sway the game in your favor. Sophisticate your bidding with topics like Michaels Cuebids, opening light in the third seat, and the art of balancing. Discover the power of end plays, cross-ruffing, and loser-on-loser play, adding layers of sophistication to your approach and keeping your opponents on their toes.

The Defensive Edge: You will be introduced to the fundamentals of defense, helping you understand how to thwart your opponents' plans and make strategic decisions as a defender.

DATES: Wednesday, March 20^th, for 8 weeks, 10am-12pm

PRICE: $240. Includes taxes, Barbara Seagram Intermediate II textbook, PDF of PowerPoint presentations and online recordings.

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR ALL

CLASSES IS REQUIRED

To register, please contact Josée at mjhammill@rogers.com, or just reply to this email.

Payment: Send by etransfer after I have confirmed your registration, to mjhammill@rogers.com or by cheque mailed to 1717 Avenue Road, Suite 418, Toronto, Ontario, M5M0A2.

DID YOU KNOW THAT? BRIDGE FUN FACTS

What Czech-American female tennis star won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, and made many other grand slams at the bridge table?

Answer: Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova is seen as one of the greatest players in tennis history. She was one of the few women players to have won every Grand Slam singles, doubles, and mixed doubles tournament. She was born in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) but applied for political asylum and ultimately citizenship in the USA when she found its communist government too oppressive. In her spare time, she greatly enjoys playing bridge, saying: "No matter where I go, I can always make new friends at the bridge table."

Curiously, the term "grand slam" first originated in bridge, and not sport. It was then adopted by baseball in the 1930s when an announcer linked the concept of scoring the maximum amount on offense to a 4-run home run. As baseball became more popular, other sports such as tennis and golf also adopted the term.

Also, she wrote the introduction to Audrey Grant's 'The Club Series-Introduction to Bridge'. She's also teamed up with Billie Jean King in an email course designed to help teach bridge to newcomers.

In the foreword to the teaching guide Bridge, Martina wrote that bridge "is more than just a card game. It's a cerebral sport. Bridge teaches you logic, reasoning, quick thinking, patience, concentration and partnership skills." 

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS IN TORONTO

Toronto Easter Regional – March 26 - 31

Sheraton Centre

123 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2M9

PH: (416)361-1000

View Tournament Flyer

Tournament Chair

Darlene Scott

Email: darlenescott@me.com

Partnership Chair

Laurie Miller

Email: lauriemiller333@gmail.com

BARBARA SEAGRAM - BRIDGE ON THE DANUBE 2025

Barbara Seagram has a new cruise on the Danube: April 2025 with a stayover in Budapest and in Prague.

For booking and inquiries, visit Barbara Seagram - Bridge Cruises



TORONTO NABC SUMMER 2024

Are you looking for an exciting event to attend in the summer of 2024? Look no further than the Toronto NABC Summer 2024!

This event, organized by the American Contract Bridge League, will take place from July 18-28, 2024 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) in Toronto, Canada.

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be chairing one of the committees for this event (the Intermediate/Newcomer Program Chair) and we are in need of volunteers.

If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Glenna Richardson at glennarichardson@bell.net and if you would like your volunteer efforts to be within the Intermediate/Novice tournament, just let Glenna know.

You can also visit our website at torontonabc.org for more details. Email me at joseehammill@torontonabc.org.

This is an incredible opportunity to be a part of a world-renowned bridge event and to work and play alongside passionate individuals in the bridge community. I hope to see you there! It will be a great event and super fun!

FACE TO FACE GAMES IN TORONTO

Stepping Stones Bridge - Cyndy Winkler

Website: https://www.bridgewebs.com/steppingstones

GENTLE BRIDGE (Supervised)

- Mondays @ 12:30 (0-20 master points) &

Step 2 - Limited Game (0-399)

- Tuesdays @ 12 noon

Location: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church

105 Wilson Ave.

E-mail: cyndywinkler@gmail.com

Cost: $12

TorontoBridge - Rob Drummond

Website: https://www.bridgewebs.com/torontobridge

- Wednesdays at Leaside Gardens

12 PM to 3 PM Open Pairs

- Thursdays at Leaside Gardens

9 AM to 11:30 AM Limited (0-500 master points) – This game has an EASY GOING vibe!

12 PM to 3 PM Open Pairs

Cost: $12

Please email Rob at rob@torontobridge.ca or call (647) 629-3408 if you have any questions.

Toronto East Bridge Club - Laurie Miller

Website: https://www.bridgewebs.com/torontoeast

- Mondays @ 7 pm (open) and supervised play 0-20

- Wednesdays @ 12:30 pm (open) and supervised play 0-20

Cost: $10

Location: 1512 Kingston Road (just east of Warden).

St Nicholas Birch Cliff Anglican Church

Entrance and parking off Manderley.

E-mail: lauriemiller333@gmail.com

BID'72 BIDDING TIP

by Jan van Cleeff (bid72.com)

As West you hold:

Dealer North. Vulnerable All. IMPs.

You may be tempted to bid, but vulnerable for IMPs, while opener behind you can be strong, that would be too dangerous. Better pass.

Another day at the office. With points divided about 20‑20 East does what one has to do in a dying bidding sequence: balance. Your call?

Please think for yourself what you would have done before reading on.

It may seem like partner has long spades and some values, enough to keep the bidding alive. However, with that type of hand partner would/should have overcalled at their first turn. Hence, partner is not at all favorite to have long spades; a four-card spade suit is more likely. So it is all but certain that instead of a mini-Moysian 4‑2 ‘fit’ in spades you have a good fit in one of the minor suits.

But how to find out which minor?

The answer is to bid 2NT, showing strong interest to play in clubs or diamonds. 2NT in this situation can hardly be natural, so no worries for misunderstandings.

In practice West smartly bid 2NT, duly converted by East to 3♣, which West was happy to pass. The hands:

The deal stems from the Dutch National Bidding Contest, week 2. 3♣ scored top-notch.

I would like to add two points:

Instead of 2♠ East could have balanced with a double. But East didn’t want to run the risk of hearing 3♦ from partner. With long diamonds and short clubs a reopening double would have made more sense, as then East could correct a 3♣ response to 3♦ (‘equal level conversion’).

There is nothing wrong with contesting partscores at IMPs. North-South make 2♥ and East-West are cold for ten tricks in clubs, a possible 7 IMP gain.

Tip: When opponents stay low, don’t give up, contest the partscore. In the long run you win IMPs.

JOSÉE’S PRE-RECORDED LESSONS

Available for instant delivery! Learn on your own time!

Bidding & Playing Shapely Hands

It's often tricky to describe a hand with a 6-5, 5-5 6-4 distribution. Then there are also those famous reverses. Bidding them is one thing but then managing to make your contract when having to deal with such distribution is something else.

What to Expect:

• Let's bid and play 12 hands borrowed from Ron Klinger that deal with unique shapes and distribution. These will challenge and elevate your bridge skills. Think 6-5 hands, 6-4 hands and such!
• Uncover strategic insights on bidding and playing these shapely hands to enhance your overall game.
• Discover why the lead of dummy’s first bid suit can be a huge red signal.
• See how to use the convention Fourth Suit Forcing before committing to a game contract.
• And if you are the opponent, learn to listen to the auction and picture the hand, giving you an advantage on how to choose the lead and how to defend.

Competitive Bidding – Feb 2023

In this lesson you'll learn how to use takeout doubles, overcalls, jump overcalls, and improve your competitive bidding arsenal.

That means, after you learn the techniques we'll cover, you can open the door to think like a much better player, in just mere hours! It’s an incredible valuable skill that anyone can learn and use during all future games.

The hands demonstrated work on the fundamentals of competitive bidding: what you need to interfere, how partner responds to your interference, planning the play after a competitive auction and more!

Avoidance Plays (Dec 2022)

Imagine playing your next hand, and instead of taking a play which gives a 50-percent chance to win, you can correctly guess the play giving you almost 100% chance to make your contract!

That's what an expert does every time, in every game, often by using avoidance plays!

Avoidance means just preventing (or avoiding) a particular defender from gaining the lead. And identifying who is the danger and safe opponent.

That means, after you learn this simple technique, you can open the door to think like an expert, in just mere hours! It’s an incredible valuable skill that anyone can learn and use during all future games.

No Trump Defence (Sep 2022)

During this lesson, we will play together 12 specially selected hands from prolific writer and accomplished bridge player Eddie Kantar.

Here's just a small sample of the 12 deals that we'll cover in this live lesson:

·       Which thinking habits you, as third hand, must have after the opening lead is made?

·       What is a negative discard, and why they are so important at No Trump?

·       Before returning partner’s suit, why and how to count declarer’s tricks?

·       Holding 4 small cards, when you should lead the top one, and when lead the second highest?

·       When declarer leads a suit, why we give count to partner.

And sooooo MUCH more...

Ducking by Declarer in Suit Contracts (Jun 2022)

You know that, most of the time, the fate of the hand is determined by how you play to the first trick. That's why many contracts can be won or lost because of that first trick.

Some of the things that you will learn in this lesson:

• There's one outstanding difference with ducking plays in suit contracts, you need to know exactly when trumps must be drawn (and what happens if you don't do it!).
• What are the 3 main reasons for making a ducking play in a suit contract.
• Why some hands can be made if you duck the first trick and win the second, while strangely enough the contract cannot be made if you win the first trick.

And much, much more! We'll play each hand twice. One without ducking, and again, the same hand ducking. Then you can easily see what happens in each case.

The 90-minute lesson includes a handout of all the hands (with commentary from Eddie Kantar).

This is an awesome opportunity to get moving towards better declarer play!

Introduction To Defence

Have you noticed that you are defending at bridge 50% of the time? That is right! Did you know that being on Defence is the most fun you can ever have at the bridge table even when you do not have any points in your hand? Let me teach you how to have more fun and to gain respect from all players when you show them you know how to defend! 

·       Opening Leads against No Trump and Suit contracts

·       2^nd hand play

·       3^rd hand play

·       Signaling against No Trump and Suit contracts

·       And much, much more!! 

Introduction To Declarer Play

Bidding is great and winning the contract even better. But if you do not know how to make a plan to make your contract then what good is that! In this 4 week course you will learn :

·        Counting Losers

·        Counting Winners

·        Ruffing losers in the Dummy

·        Extra Winners in the Dummy or in Declarer’s Hand

·        Long Suit Establishment (aka Taking Tricks with Tiny Cards)

·        When and How to take a Finesse and much more! 

Thinking Bridge – Plan Your Moves!

Whatever seat you are in, you have to be planning your moves. Let’s spend these sessions where we explore what it feels like to sit in any and all 4 seats, and think like an expert. Only time you will be allowed to relax will be when in the dummy’s seat. Complete set of different hands for each of the dates. You will love them! (3 sessions so far)

Basics Beginners Bridge Series

Learn the basic elements of the game of bridge: how to take tricks, how to work with a partner, how to open the bidding in a suit and in No Trump, how to respond, how to compete and more.

An 8 week course includes all recordings, PDF of presentations and practice hands for each week.

Intermediate I Bridge Series

For those who feel rusty and need a refresher and for those moving up from Basic lessons. Opportunities to play and practice online will be provided. Lessons are recorded and can be watched on your own time.

A 7 week course includes all recordings, PDF of presentations and practice hands for each week.

Intermediate 2

Weak Two Bids, Strong 2 Club Bids, Slam Bidding, Cue-Bidding First Round Controls, Preempts, Unusual NT, Michaels Cuebids, Opening Light in 3rd seat, Balancing, End Plays, Cross-Ruff, Loser-on-loser play, Introduction to defence, ...and MUCH more!!

An 8 week course includes all recordings, PDF of presentations and practice hands for each week.

Intermediate 3

Intermediate III is a full course on Defence and Conventions!

DEFENCE: Third Hand Play, Second Hand Play, Suit Preference Signalling, Strategy on Defence, Lead Directing Doubles, Discarding. 

CONVENTIONS: Negative Doubles, Jacoby 2 NT as a forcing raise, Jacoby Transfers, Texas Transfers, Splinters, Roman Key Card Blackwood, Cue Bids, Slam Bidding and lots more! 

Learn To Play Two Over One

Learn the system that most of North America now plays. It makes it much easier to get to a better contract, easier to find slams on fewer values and easier to know when to stop in a part score.  Learn the forcing No Trump bid.  

A two day course + one additional hour of practice hands.

Bid And Play – The Convention Series

Lesson 1 - DONT over 1NT Opening Bid

Lesson 2 - Reverse Drury

Lesson 3 - Jacoby 2NT and Splinters

Lesson 4 - Reverse Bergen/Bergen Raises

Lesson 5 - New Minor Forcing/Checkback Stayman

Lesson 6 - Fourth Suit Forcing

Lesson 7 - Four Way Transfers

All lessons come with recordings and PDF of practice hands.

·       Purchase each lesson individually $20 or

·       Buy all 7 lessons for the price of 6 - $120

Please email me at mjhammill@rogers.com, indicating the course or lesson, and I'll send you all details. If you wish to pay using PayPal I can provide the PayPal link at the time.