LONDON BRIDGE CENTRE

London Bridge Centre recognizes the need for education programs for players of all levels - from absolute beginners to advanced players. The path for beginners starts with a basic course which can then be supplemented with additional basic+ level courses. Opportunities to practice what has been learned are also available. For the intermediate and advanced player, two and four-week courses are offered on a variety of topics.

 LBC reserves the right to cancel any course if there is insufficient registration.

Bridge Basics I is a general introduction to the game of bridge that includes basic terminology, bidding, and card play. This course is designed for individuals with no bridge experience or for those who are returning to bridge after an extended absence from the game.

Course Topics: Hand evaluation, the bidding ladder, no-trump opening bids and basic responses, minor suit opening bids and basic responses, major suit openings and basic responses, and dummy points. Hand play and defence will be included in each class. 

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Where: London Bridge Centre

When: Eight Saturday mornings, January 11 - March 1, 2025

Cost: $120 plus the cost of the text, Audrey Grant's textbook, Bridge Basics 1 (approx $30).

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Teacher: Barb O'Brien

For further information, contact Barb at barbcanbe@gmail.com 

To register please click HERE.

Bridge Basics II carries on with practice in playing hands and provides an introduction to the following topics in bidding: Take-out doubles, overcalls, pre-emptive bids, weak 2 openings, and responses to each of these bidding strategies.

Registrants should have taken a beginner's course or have equivalent experience.

Where: London Bridge Centre

When: Six Tuesday mornings, January 28 to March 4, 2025, from 9:30 to noon.

Cost: $90 plus the cost of the text (approx $30).

For further information, contact Jane janeking914@yahoo.com

To register for this course please click HERE.

Slam Bidding after Major and Minor Suit Openings:

A Course for Advanced and Intermediate Players

Slam bidding is difficult even for expert players.  This course is designed for the advanced and intermediate player who is comfortable playing in Open Games and is looking to improve toward becoming an expert player.  The course will be taught in the winter of 2025, (exact dates to be announced later), from 2:00 until 4:15 on Tuesday afternoons over a period of four weeks, using Zoom technology.  

There will also be a Practice and Play component available, using BBO and Zoom, in a mutually agreed upon two-hour afternoon time slot during the first two weeks after the course finishes.

To achieve the maximum benefit, you should take this course with a partner who has a similar level of bridge expertise and a desire to improve to the next level.

Course Outline    

Weeks one and two will look at critical aspects associated with slam bidding in the majors:

·         Jacoby 2NT;

·         Splinter Bids;

·         Control Bids;

·         1430 Blackwood

·         Queen Ask.

Weeks three and four will look at critical aspects associated with slam bidding in the minors:

·         Inverted minors;

·         Splinter Bids;

·         When new suits are looking for NT and when they are Control Bids;

·         When cue-bids are looking for NT and when they are Control Bids;

·         Finding minor suit slams in a suit that is not opened;

·         1430 Blackwood

·         Queen Ask.

Practice and Play

For those who are interested, the course can be followed by two Practice and Play sessions.  These separate two-hour private Practice and Play sessions will be with a group of four and based on the concepts taught during the course.  Each session will be supervised by Barry and take place on a mutually agreed upon afternoon time slot during the first two weeks after the completion of the course.  If you are unable to find another compatible pair for the Practice and Play component, an attempt will be made to find a pair for you.

Dates and Times

The classes will be held during the mid-winter of 2025 from 2:00 pm to 4:15 pm. Dates to be announced.

Practice and Play will take place on a mutually agreed upon afternoon time and day during the first two weeks following the course. 

Cost

 The cost for the four lessons and resources will be $70.

The cost for the two Practice and Play sessions and resources will be $40.

Registration and Payment

Registration dates for the course will be announced in late 2024 in the London Bridge Centre Newsletter. 

Payment should be by e-transfer or cheque.

Registration and payment for the Practice and Play component can be made toward the end of the course.

The link to register for this course will be activated in early 2025.

For further information contact Barry Onslow: 519-657-9793 or email bonslow@uwo.ca 

Are you interested in developing your bridge skills?

Several teachers from London Bridge Centre are offering small group lessons online while they sit as Fifth Chair to guide your progress. Your group will play online at a mutually agreed-upon time. Prices and the length of each session may vary slightly.  For further info please go to Fifth Chair teachers. Please contact the teacher of your choice for details.