Nigel_Classes

Learn & Play Masterclass

New Learn & Play Masterclass starts 12th July 2007 (or by agreement)

Introduction
All are welcome to the "Learn & play" Contract-bridge class on Mondays and Thursdays. You attend either or both at 7.10 pm in Reading Bridge Club, 35 Jesse Terrace, Reading Berks, RG1 7RS, (Telephone: 0118 957 3077).

Price
The price is £3 per session (£2 for club-members) £1 for students; payable on the night. The price includes tuition, a practice session with a small prize for the winning pair, and tea or coffee.

Target Audience
All contract bridge players who want to improve their skills are welcome. The standard is mixed. Most class-members have a few years of experience; but some have just started. The class-members themselves help to define the content of the course and its level of difficulty; this is especially true on Thursdays when the tuition consists of discussion of class-members' questions While we do not require advance booking, we would appreciate it if you would let us know if you intend to come. It would also be helpful if you would let us know your level of knowledge of bridge by telephoning or E-mailing one of the contacts below

Contacts
Tutor: Nigel Guthrie (email:Bridge_Class-Owner@yahoogroups.com).
Club secretary John Greenhalgh (email:Johnhgreenhalgh@aol.com)

Tutor Nigel is an experienced teacher, a club member, and a Bridge Grand Master, who has represented Britain. On both Mondays and Thursdays, members receive a print-out of the deals that they have played that night for discussion with the tutor. Thursdays format is question and answer. Monday's tuition follows a rough theme; but in either case, course content is determined by member's requests.

Syllabus
Below is a rough syllabus for a typical previous Monday course on the "Uncontested Auction".

Week	Title	Contents
1	Mind Tricks	Welcome. References. Aim of bidding. Bidding as mental play. How to build tricks. Duplicate handout. Scoring handout.
2	Winners & Losers	How to evaluate your hand. Losing trick count. Winners. What you need to open the bidding. How high to raise. The danger of duplication.
3	Suit you Sir!	Natural suit opening bids. Which suit to open and why. How to respond. What to rebid. What a reverse is. When to jump shift.
4	Keep It Simple Stupid! (KISS)	Limit bids. Simple English Convention Cards. Notrump bidding. Quantitative raises. Natural, Conventional & Artificial bids.
5	Game Safari	Strength needed for game. Conventions to explore for games. Crowhurst enqiry. Trial bids
6	Journey into space	Requirements for slam (Tricks, Controls, Good trumps). Bidding space & safety-levels. Conventions to explore for slams. Cue bids. RKCB (Roman Key-card Blackwood).

Approximate Timetable

19:10 Convention of the week Tutor describes a convention chosen by a player in a 10 minute seminar.

19.20 Duplicate competition You play in a duplicate practice session of about 12 boards. There is no no need to bring a partner because partnerships are informally arrranged.

21.00 Coffee break While you take a break, the director calculates your score in the duplicate competition.

21.15 Review of play You receive a print-out of the deals that you played in the practice session and the tutor conducts an informal post-mortem on deals of interest.

21.45 Tuition Bridge tutor answers questions and talks for about half an hour. Topics depend on players' needs. Thursdays are informal but Mondays follow a theme e.g Declarer play, Defence, Uncontested auction, Competitive bidding).

22:15 Expected end.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Nigel Guthrie

Last updated: 30/06/2007

19:10	Convention of the week	Tutor describes a convention chosen by a player in a 10 minute seminar.
19.20	Duplicate competition	You play in a duplicate practice session of about 12 boards. There is no no need to bring a partner because partnerships are informally arrranged.
21.00	Coffee break	While you take a break, the director calculates your score in the duplicate competition.
21.15	Review of play	You receive a print-out of the deals that you played in the practice session and the tutor conducts an informal post-mortem on deals of interest.
21.45	Tuition	Bridge tutor answers questions and talks for about half an hour. Topics depend on players' needs. Thursdays are informal but Mondays follow a theme e.g Declarer play, Defence, Uncontested auction, Competitive bidding).
22:15	Expected end.