"I play Goren."  Such a statement isn't heard as often as it once was but then again neither is "I play bridge." For a few of us learning bridge in the early 60s "Goren" was state of the art.  Charles Goren was one of the foremost players of the 1940s and 1950s.  His true contribution to the game of bridge was the introduction of point count bidding based upon the 4 3 2 1 evaluations.  Goren changed hand valuations away from Quick Tricks and suit length to High Card Points and  evaluating short suits, commonly 3 points for a void, 2 for singleton and 1 for a doubleton.   The journey to "modern" systems has not been cataclysmic but rather a slow evolution with new ideas pasted on top of existing practices. In the realm of hand evaluation now most experts while retaining 4-3-2-1 use suit length as a primary evaluation tool.  Most teaching now starts with a simplistic version of a "Standard" bidding then refines and adds  nuances, treatments, and ever evolving conventions.  Learning basic bridge is the process of building a foundation, then adding new things which are compatible.  Thus, avoiding teaching a historical approach which may have been the true fundamental underpinning to modern bidding but which would need to be unlearned as the process continues.. Learning bridge should be considered a journey with something new every time you play and every time you take a deeper dive into any aspect of the game.  Nike Athletics coined the phrase "JUST DO IT", this certainly applies to bridge as well.  "Just Do It" and enjoy the journey, with bridge nobody ever stops learning.

We are truly fortunate to have two teachers in Sioux City to offer bridge lessons in person  just for the love of the game.  If you can attend Diane Howard's Advanced Class on Monday mornings or Leon Koster's Beginning Bridge on Thursday you are very fortunate.  There are many online and You-Tube videos offering more learning opportunities.. I would like to highlight one found on the ACBL site. Click HERE .  Two series are featured.. The first, Deal Me In starts in July 2023 with very basic concepts of bidding and play.  The July 2023 lesson also explains some common terms like "Opener" and "Advancer." You may proceed through nearly 30 mini lesson in bidding and play with a new one added monthly. The second series is It's Your Call, taken from the pages of the ACBL Bulletin.  The articles present a bidding opportunity, then rate your choice, and provide expert commentary on the various possible choices..  What's great about these features? Together there are more articles than you will likely get through. Second, they are available both the afternoon and middle of the night.  You may leave, then come back, at your own pace.. Finally, consistent high quality content produced by the ACBL staff,  is tailor made for persons interested in learning bridge and advancing their game.  N.B. The Deal Me In Series may best be viewed starting in the earliest offerings, so paging pack is probably a good idea.  It's your Call, does not seem to be order dependent.