Learning and Improving Your Bridge at the Young Chelsea

The Young Chelsea Bridge Club runs a full programme of bridge courses, catering for everyone from complete beginner through to regular club player. To complement the formal courses, we offer a range of playing opportunities to help you consolidate what you have learnt and to prepare you for joining in the regular club sessions.

Basic Bridge

We run three courses which cover all the basic of bridge and which take new players from being complete beginners to being competent bridge players able to play at any bridge club. Each course consists of eight 2‑hour lessons, taking place once a week. These are:

• Basic Bridge—Beginners

  Our first course is for those who have no previous knowledge of bridge. Bidding and card play are the two main elements of bridge and we cover both, providing a firm foundation on which to build bridge expertise. The course teaches a system of bidding based on “Strong No Trump and 5‑card Majors”—a system which is used very widely across the world—so if you learn with us you will be equipped to play bridge wherever you go!

• Basic Bridge—Improvers

  This course builds on the foundation provided by the beginners’ course and is suitable for anyone who has completed the first course, or for anyone who has a basic knowledge of bridge but is in need of an update or a refresh of their knowledge.

• Basic Bridge—Graduation

  Our third course provides the developing bridge player with all the tools they need to participate in a regular club duplicate game. Aspects of card play, as both declarer and in defence, are covered more deeply, and less‑frequent auctions are explored more fully, providing students with guidance on how to deal with unexpected situations at the bridge table. Those completing this course will receive a certificate of achievement as a club player.

More details of what will be achieved by the student on each of the three Basic courses are given on the Course Objectives page.

Bridge in the Fast Lane

For those who like to tackle things at a faster pace, we also provide the opportunity to learn all the basics of bridge in just two weekends.

• Weekend 1

  The first weekend broadly covers the material of the Basic Bridge—Beginners course. At the end of the weekend, you will be equipped with all you need to enjoy a game of bridge with your peers—and it is strongly recommended that you take time to consolidate your learning through play before attending the second weekend.

• Weekend 2

  The second weekend course covers all the topics addressed by the Improvers and Graduation courses and by the end of this weekend you will have attained the status of a qualified bridge club player.

Intermediate

Three further courses are available to allow players to develop their bridge skills and extend their knowledge of bridge agreements and conventions, so as to enable them to become better players.

• Intermediate 1

  This course provides revision of the fundamental auctions covered on the Basic Bridge courses and goes on to introduce the concept of transfers after opening no trump bids. The course also goes further into the play of the hand as both declarer and defender, introducing new techniques to help maximise trick‑taking potential.

• Intermediate 2

  This course concentrates on competitive bidding, especially new ways in which to use doubles. It also introduces Roman Key Card Blackwood and the Fourth Suit Forcing convention. Play topics include the concept of the danger hand, and the importance of counting both as declarer and defender.

• Intermediate 3

  Slam bidding using Splinter bids and cue bidding are introduced in this course, along with the concept of cue bidding opponents’ suits. In addition, signalling in defence is covered in some detail.

Seminar Programme

We run a series of seminars covering a range of topics to help to develop your game. These can be at any level from Improver, Intermediate or Advanced. Each seminar, which is normally a 3‑hour session, covers a different aspect of bidding or card play. Seminars are highly interactive, with plenty of play to allow practice of what has been covered. Participants also receive comprehensive handouts to take away.

Supervised Play

We strongly recommend that after learning the basics of bridge you come along to supervised play sessions. These are suitable for anyone who has completed the Basic Beginners course or for anyone with more experience but who does not feel ready to plunge into a formal club duplicate session.

In a supervised play session you play at your own pace under the watchful eye of one of our expert tutors or players, who is available to help and advise where needed. Supervised play is an enjoyable and social learning experience where you are able to put into practice what you have learned and gain confidence at the bridge table.

Supervised play sessions can either be attended at the club in person, or alternatively online. The online sessions use the RealBridge platform with video so you can see and talk to all the people at your table. For supervised play sessions at the club, you can come and go as you please—there is no need to book, nor to come with a partner. For online sessions, played on RealBridge you need to book by emailing the tutor, Mike, at mike@bridge.me.uk.

Goldhawks Social Duplicates

Goldhawks is the name we have given to our social duplicate bridge sessions, to distinguish them from the regular club games which are of a higher standard than is comfortable for many players with limited experience. They provide a relaxed and friendly opportunity to play and meet others of a similar standard, allowing individuals to develop their bridge skills at their own pace in a gently competitive environment. Goldhawks duplicates provide a natural bridge between the supervised play sessions and the more advanced club games.

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Item last updated 12 May 2022