SpadeHeart 
Market Harborough Bridge Club
 DiamondClub
CHRIS GRAVES

One of our members, Chris Graves, sadly passed away recently. He had been a "Thursday" player for many years.
Many club members sent condolences, several attended his funeral and the club provided a donation.

Chris's wife has sent her thanks to all those who attended or sent condolences.

Recent Updates
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8th Jan 2026 07:06 GMT
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16th Dec 2025 19:43 GMT
Release 2.19r
2026 Lessons for beginners
MHBC TRAINING PART 1

Part 1 "Beginning Bridge" is based on the English Bridge Union (EBU) approved training course and runs for 10 weeks with the next run starting in January 2026.

It is every Wednesday in Market Harborough 7:30 to 9:45 in the Market Harborough Methodist Church hall

Typically we have 16-20 students learning in the class, with a trainer and several club members to help with practice sessions.

The course presumes no prior knowledge (although some people who have played before find it useful as a refresher). It covers the basics:

 

- Getting Starting - Introduction and card play

- Playing "mini-bridge". An simplified version to help get playing the game 

- Bidding boxes: the auction

- Bidding to play in "no trumps"

- Bidding to play with trumps

 

On completion of this sequence, learners can opt to attend some additional sessions of "supervised play" to help practice the topics covered on the course

MHBC TRAINING PART 2

Part 2 of the training program will start after a summer break. It builds on the basics learned in the Part 1 course above and is based on the second half of the EBU "Beginning Bridge" book.

This course also runs for 10 weeks, every Wednesday in Market Harborough 7:30 to 9:45 in the Market Harborough Methodist Church hall and also usually has 16-20 students with a trainer and several club members to help with practice sessions.

Topics covered include:            

- Declarer playing techniques

- Defence playing techniques

- Handling competitive bidding 

- The "Stayman" convention

- Bidding with very strong hands

- Competitive bidding with weak hands

- Slam bidding

On completion of this sequence, learners can opt to attend some additional sessions of "supervised play" to help practice the topics covered on the course

Other bridge courses available

A number of nearby bridge clubs provide bridge lessons. We are aware of the following:

Kettering Bridge Club (www.bridgewebs.com/kettering/) and Northampton Bridge Club (www.northamptonbridge.org.uk) are both currently running 10-week courses for beginners.

Leicester's County Bridge Club (www.bridgewebs.com/cbc/) invites anyone interested in learning to contact them for details of suitable courses.

No Fear Bridge (www.nofearbridge.co.uk) provides online learning for beginners and learners at all levels.

The English Bridge Union (EBU) runs a national learning programme under the title of Bridge For All, for those interested in learning to play bridge (www.ebedcio.org.uk/BFA)