Learn Bridge in Six Weeks
Takes you from complete beginner to playing your first real game. No experience needed, and you don't need to bring a partner.
Course summary
Before you start: meet the cards
The deck and the table
The parts of a card, the deck, handling the cards, and the words you'll hear.
Keep these handy
Print them, or keep them open on a tablet beside you.
How the game works
Learn
Partnerships and seats, tricks, trumps, suit ranking, counting high-card points, and declarer, dummy and the opening lead.
Practise
In class: Play minibridge: card play before any bidding.
Homework: Deal 10 hands at home, count each hand's points, and note which have 12 or more.
Topics:
- Partnerships, tricks and trumps
- Counting high-card points
- Declarer, dummy and the opening lead
Opening the bidding and responding
Learn
When to open, which suit to open, and how partner responds. Finding an eight-card fit.
Practise
In class: 16 boards: bid-only for the first 8, then bid and play.
Homework: Choose the opening bid for 12 hands, then the response to 1♥ for 12 more.
Topics:
- The auction and bidding boxes
- One-level openings
- Responding to partner
Opener's rebid and notrump bidding
Learn
Showing your strength on the second bid, and handling a 1NT opening with Stayman and transfers.
Practise
In class: Half the boards open 1NT; the rest test opener's rebid.
Homework: Write the auction for 10 given 1NT responder hands.
Topics:
- Opener's rebid by strength
- Responding to 1NT (15–17)
- Stayman and Jacoby transfers
Competitive bidding and preempts
Learn
Getting into the auction when the opponents open, and making life hard for them with weak twos and preempts.
Practise
In class: Boards where both sides have something to say.
Homework: Opponent opens 1♥: choose your action for 12 hands.
Topics:
- Overcalls and the 1NT overcall
- Takeout doubles
- Weak twos and preempts
Strong hands, slams and declarer play
Learn
The strong 2♣ and 2NT openings, Blackwood, and planning the play before trick one.
Practise
In class: Each board is built around one declarer technique.
Homework: Five declarer-play problems: find the plan.
Topics:
- Strong 2♣ and 2NT openings
- Slam bidding with Blackwood
- Planning the play
Defence and scoring
Learn
Opening leads, signals, scoring, and how a duplicate session works, ready for your first game.
Practise
In class: Graduation: a short supervised duplicate session.
Homework: Come to a supervised session at the club!
Topics:
- Opening leads
- Attitude and count signals
- Scoring and duplicate procedure
Ready to play? Your first duplicate session
After week 6 you're ready for a supervised or novice session. Find a club near you, and bring your workbook.
For teachers and clubs
Run this course at your club
Session-by-session plans with timings, what to teach, practice boards and homework.
System cards
The ABF system card students fill in during the course.