This is a ten week course designed for players with some experience, ideally having taken our Bridge 1, 2 and 3 courses.

The first session will be a thorough review of understandings about simple overcalls, jump overcalls, pre-emptive overcalls, and doubles in both the direct and the protective position.

The second session looks at advancing overcalls in competitive and constructive positions and looks at stretch responses by opener’s partner. The third session looks at the decisions competitive bidders have to make as to whether to bid on, pass or double the opponents. The fourth session looks at the many uses of doubles in competitive auctions.

Session five covers bids and calls used after interference to try for game, or the best, contract, or set up a defence play.

Sessions six and seven consider various conventional (artificial) overcalls used to show two suited hands over opener’s bid. Session eight considers defences (bidding methods) over pre-emptive opening bids, and to the Multi 2 Diamond.

Session nine looks at bidding methods for responding to 1NT doubled.

Finally, Session ten looks at bidding methods over a strong 1 Club, strong 1NT or 5 card majors.

Sessions include a short dissertation and substantial practice of hands with bidding challenges associated with the lesson topic. Attendees will receive colour notes to store in an A5 binder.