We are offering two introductory beginner courses: ACBL’s Intro to Bridge and Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1.
ACBL Intro to Bridge
Series 1: (Bridge Basics – Play and Bidding) Part one of this course starts at the very beginning with there are 52 cards in a deck, introduces trick taking and trump. It begins with learning the goal of the game and how to play including simple play strategies and the basics of bidding based on the Standard American 5-Card Majors system. Lessons are ~ 2 hours with 35-40 minutes of teacher-led instruction and 80-85 minutes of student-centered activities including 30 minutes of play. Cost (new for 2026): $60 for all 10 Series 1 Lessons – including the student manual. For students wishing to preview the course or get an early start, the Series 1 Student Manual can be purchased at Amazon.com for $10 https://a.co/d/7VZHHjR. If you purchase your own book the cost is $50 for the course. Students who complete Series 1 will receive Pre-paid Newcomer Game tickets for use in future games – a $35 value.
Lesson 1: Understanding the Basics
Lesson 2: Improving Play
Lesson 3: Counting Winners / Planning Line of Play
Lesson 4: Taking Tricks with Trump
Lesson 5: Opening the Bidding
Lesson 6: Evaluating a Hand / Responding to 1-Level Minor Openings
Lesson 7: Responding to 1-Level Major Openings / Raising an opening NT bid
Lesson 8: Rebidding by Opener
Lesson 9: Rebidding by Responder
Lesson 10: Overcalling & Advancing
Day/Time: Mondays, 3 PM, starting August 31, 2026
Presenter: Steve Powers
Day/Time: Thursdays, 5:30 PM, starting September 10, 2026
Presenter: Roger Wainwright
Series 2: (Opening Leads, Beginning Conventions & Play) Part two of this course starts with opening leads and covers some of the most common conventions all players should know including Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, Preempts, Doubles, and the Strong 2♣ Opening. The course wraps up with helping students build their convention card with everything they have learned, scoring, understanding what to expect at the table culminating in a duplicate teaching game. Lessons are ~ 2 hours with 35-40 minutes of teacher-led instruction and 80-85 minutes of student-centered activities culminating in a full game in the final session. Cost: (new for 2026): $65 for all 10 Series 2 lessons – including the student manual. For students wishing to preview the course or get an early start, the Series 2 Student Manual can be purchased at Amazon.com for $12 https://a.co/d/7VZHHjR. If you purchase your own book the cost is $53 for the course. Students who complete Series 2 will receive Pre-paid Newcomer Game tickets for use in future games – a $35 value.
Lesson 11: Understanding & Making Opening Leads
Lesson 12: Responding to NT / Stayman
Lesson 13: Responding to NT / Jacoby Transfers
Lesson 14: Bidding & Responding to Weak Twos
Lesson 15: Bidding & Responding to Negative Doubles
Lesson 16: Bidding & Responding to Takeout Doubles
Lesson 17: Bidding & Responding to Preempts/Vulnerability & Penalty Doubles
Lesson 18: Bidding Strong 2♣/2♦ Waiting & Positive Responses
Lesson 19: Putting it All Together
Lesson 20: Playing Duplicate
Day/Time: Tentatively Mondays, 3 PM to 5 PM, Starting Early January 2027
Presenter: Steve Powers
Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1
We periodically offer a course using Jim Ricker’s Beginning Bridge Using 2 Over 1. This 17 lesson course is designed for people new to bridge, novice players and players who have been away from bridge for many years. It offers many of the same bidding topics offered in other beginner courses, but it transitions into the 2 Over 1 Game Force bidding system used by many players throughout North America. We’ve typically offered this course as a follow-on to an entry level course.
Day/Time: TBD
Instructor: TBD