Speaking of Barbara, join me in congratulating her and David Bird for winning the Intermediate Book of the Year Award for their book Play it Safe! Do you have a copy yet. It is absolutely fabulous! If not, you can order directly from Barbara on her website at barbaraseagram.com.

Barbara is holding a lesson online with proceeds going to Adopt a Village in Laos. Do consider signing up for this lesson and supporting a cause so dear to her heart. It will be great! Link is below! 

I am doing an online lesson on No Trump Defence. Who doesn’t need more help with Defence! Registrations are open! Scroll down for details. 

Finally, I am excited to let you know that we will be bringing back our in person 0-20 MP novice game with Susan Trumper at the helm! Mark your calendars – details below! Volunteers recruitment has begun. We need you !  

Voila! That is about it for now. I look forward to seeing you in September! Have a safe and enjoyable rest of summer.  

2022 In Person Fall Schedule

Location: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church, 105 Wilson Avenue

Josée Hammill is thrilled to return to Face-to-Face lessons this Fall! 🍂🍁

Basic Beginners Bridge Series

– For brand new players! –

Learn the basic elements of the game of bridge, and get a solid foundation right from the start. You will be playing a hand of bridge during your very first lesson!

An 8-week course includes Barbara Seagram’s Bridge Basics book and PDF of PowerPoint presentations plus any additional handouts from week to week.

• Tuesdays 6:30 to 8:30 pm, beginning on September 13^th and ending on November 8^th.

Please note NO CLASS on October 4^th for Yom Kippur

Price: $240 includes taxes and textbook.

Intermediate I Bridge Series

For those who feel rusty and need a refresher and for those moving up from Basic lessons.

A 7-week course includes Barbara Seagram’s Intermediate I book and PDF of PowerPoint presentations plus any additional handouts from week to week.

• Tuesdays 1 to 3 pm, beginning on September 13^th and ending on November 1st.

Please note NO CLASS on October 4^th for Yom Kippur

Price: $210 includes taxes and textbook.

• To register: Contact Josée at mjhammill@rogers.com or call (416) 300-9140
• Payment: Send by etransfer to mjhammill@rogers.com or by cheque mailed to my home address – 1717 Avenue Road, Suite 418, Toronto, Ontario, M5M0A2.

NEW LESSON ON ZOOM - NO TRUMP DEFENCE 

Excited to offer the following learning opportunity this coming September. The lesson is recorded with unlimited access once you purchase the lesson.

Mark your calendars for the next live lesson on Wednesday, September 28^th, from 4 to 5:45 ET. The topic is No Trump Defence.

No trump defence begins with the opening lead. But then once you see the dummy, do you know if you should stick to your original plan or look for the right switch? Let’s learn from Eddie Kantar once again with a set of 12 super interesting hands. 

The lesson will be recorded and a PDF of all the hands including commentary from Eddie Kantar will be sent to you. This topic will much improve your No Trump Defence.

DATE: Wed. September 28^th, 4:00 – 5:45 pm EST

PRICE: $25

Payment by etransfer to mjhammill@rogers.com or by cheque mailed to my home address – 1717 Avenue Road, Suite 418, Toronto, Ontario, M5M0A2.

PayPal email address: mjhammill@rogers.com or here http://bit.ly/JoseePaypal (please, don’t forget to include your e-mail address when paying by Paypal).

Looking forward to seeing you in September!  

URGENT MESSAGE FROM BARBARA SEAGRAM

Hi everyone,

I have created a FREE video that's an introduction to the game of bridge. I am hoping you will forward this to EVERYONE on your email list: All levels. Please ask everyone to pass on this link to the video to all their contacts so that we can have lots of new people interested in learning to play bridge.

This is a free introductory beginner's bridge class. Approx. 28 minutes. A taste of bridge for brand new players. Please send this out to your friends, family, bank teller(!) and anyone else you come into contact with.

Here is the YouTube link. Click on the small box in bottom right hand corner of the tiny screen and this will give you FULL SCREEN video. Click ESC on keyboard at end and your screen will return to normal.

LINK FOR BEGINNERS' INTRODUCTION TO BRIDGE

https://youtu.be/V033as-0bCQ

We all need to promote the game which has been hit hard (as has everything) during Covid. Please help to resuscitate our game. 

Don't wait...forward now. 

New online lesson with Barbara on Wed. Sep 14

- Proceeds to Adopt a Village in Laos - 

Here is the link for Barbara's new Laos lesson on Wed. Sep 14th at 3.45 pm till 6.00 pm. BECOME A MUCH BETTER DECLARER. The lesson is on Zoom and anyone who makes a donation of $55.00 or more will receive a link to attend the lesson on Zoom as well as the recording of the lesson. This way, you can watch whenever and how often you please in the comfort of your home.

https://barbaraseagram.clickfunnels.com/sept-14-lesson-laos-donations

All proceeds go towards buying water filters in remote villages in Laos.

Minimum donation is $55.00 CAD $ (approx. $44.00 USD).

If you donate 130.00 CAD $ (approx. 105.00 USD), you will be purchasing a water filter for a family. This will help immensely with their health and well-being and improve their quality of life. Also, with a donation of $130.00 CAD, you will receive a receipt as well as a picture of the family receiving the filter which will have your name on it and your country's flag (see pictures below).

You may also make a donation in memory of someone or in honour of someone. 

Contact Barbara Seagram at barbaraseagram@gmail.com with any further questions.

This is Barbara's and Patti's 11th year of working with Adopt a Village in Laos to bring clean water to these rural villages.

Thank you for caring.

Our In Person Gentle Bridge

will be back next month!

Our 0-20 MP game will be starting again on September 19th.

Bring a friend and your friend plays their first game for free. Pass the word to all you know who are interested in returning to in person bridge and want a gentle supervised environment. 

Susan and her wonderful team of Volunteers await you !  

Please Note: Registration is required to participate

• Every Monday, 12:30 to 3:00 pm beginning on September 19th. 
• Address: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church - 105 Wilson Avenue, Toronto.
• Map and directions: https://goo.gl/maps/EGeNRrFmSEyHbuCKA
• If coming by TTC, take the Yonge St Subway to York Mills Station. Then a short bus trip along Wilson. Bus # 97, disembark at OId Yonge Blvd or Belgrave Ave. 
• Fee: $12 per person.



Pre-Registration required by emailing gentlebridgejosee@gmail.com. Include name and contact information of your partner (if you have one).  Dont worry if you don't. We will provide you with one. 

We look forward to seeing you, 

Josée and Susan   

From the BBO Archives

Quiz – Play and Defense for Beginners #5

You're defending, sitting East.

Partner leads small ♥, dummy plays low.

What will you play?

♥A, ♥Q or ♥5?

Brand new

25 BRIDGE CONVENTIONS YOU SHOULD KNOW

NOW HERE!

$24.00 (reg $27.95 CAD $)

$20.00 (reg $21.95 USD $)

plus postage

or pick up from Barbara's

home at 220 Lawrence Ave East

Toronto

NEW & FULLY REVISED & REWRITTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1999

Buy online on our store OR email us and we will ship. or pick up in Toronto

Here's the link for CAD store: https://store.barbaraseagram.com/collections/all-bridge-books/products/25-bridge-conventions-you-should-know

Here's the link for USD store: https://storeus.barbaraseagram.com/collections/all-bridge-books/products/25-bridge-conventions-you-should-know

Since its publication in 1999, 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know has sold more than 300,000 copies in six languages. It has become a much-valued learning tool and reference for everyone from social players to those who regularly spend time at their local bridge club.

But bridge has changed in the last twenty-odd years. Bidding has changed. Some of the conventions in the original book have fallen into disuse, while others have gained in popularity and importance. Many basic conventions have changed in subtle ways as bidding methods have developed. It is now time, therefore, to update this modern classic so that today's players can be in tune with what is happening and stay current.

This new edition has been thoroughly updated, while retaining the approach and features that made the original so popular. Each convention in the book has been carefully revised to reflect the way it is used in the modern game. Students are now universally taught to play transfers in response to a strong notrump opening, and the new edition reflects that change in several ways. Three chapters (Landy, Grand Slam Force and Ogust responses to Weak Twos) have been dropped completely in favor of Bergen Raises and the DONT and Meckwell defenses to 1NT. 

JOSÉE’S PRE-RECORDED LESSONS

Instant Delivery - Learn on your own time!  Many courses to choose from ! 

NEW! Ducking by Declarer in Suit Contracts

During this lesson, we play together 12 selected hands from prolific writer and accomplished bridge player Eddie Kantar. Here's a quick preview: https://youtu.be/kqiBuPSr0s4

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 :

• 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.

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! 
• Includes Eddie Kantar’s book - 2nd edition, revised and updated by Barbara Seagram.

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
• 2nd hand play
• 3rd hand play
• Signaling against No Trump and Suit contracts
• And much, much more!!
• Includes Eddie Kantar’s book - 2nd edition, revised and updated by Barbara Seagram.

NEW! 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!

Bridge Basics (for brand new players)

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. This is an 8 week program.

 Intermediate I

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. This is a 7 week program.

 Intermediate II

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 III

Intermediate 3 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. 

How to order: Please contact me for pricing and other details at  mjhammill@rogers.com, indicating the course you are interested in.