Bridge
Bridge is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards, played by four players in two competing partnerships.
In contract bridge you always play with a partner against another pair. All the 52 cards are dealt out, each player receiving 13 cards.
For most recreational players, bridge is simply an interesting and fun game that never gets boring and is always challenging. However, with practice and experience, any person with a good memory can, during the course of a game, pretty much work out who holds which cards.
What makes bridge different from many other card games is its bidding system. Bidding often takes up half of a game, while the other half comprises the actual playing of the cards. The side that “wins” the bidding is contracting to take a certain number of tricks in the play, and will be rewarded in the scoring if they do so, but punished if they fail.
We teach the Acol bidding system.
In a typical session of play there may be 16 tables (so 32 pairs playing). All pairs play the same boards over the session (a “board” is a deal of the cards) and then their scores are compared on each board. Interestingly you don't have to be in a contract to do well — if you can restrict your opponents on a board while others in the same position on other tables don’t defend as well, then you will score highly. Consequently being dealt a poor hand isn’t a penalty, the skill is in the bidding and playing whatever your cards.
Lessons
Our lesson program for beginners starts on 22 March 2023.
Lessons are run on Wednesdays: 7 pm to 9 pm.
There are twelve lessons, interwoven with about ten playing sessions in which you practise what you have learned. After the lessons are completed the lesson group are invited to join the Junior Division to play in weekly supervised competition each Wednesday evening for the rest of the year.
Cost: $50 for the lessons, plus $6 table money on playing nights only.
All enquiries to tutor Matt Blakeley (mgblakeley@gmail.com)
Interested in joining or receiving more information about the next lesson program?
Please enrol here to show your interest — we will contact you before the lessons are due to start.
Further information:
If you like to play 500 you will love playing bridge even more.