Lesson 2 of 5
In Progress

016 – Features in Our Bridge Lessons

016

Features of our Lessons

60SecondBridge lessons include 5 features
that will make learning Bridge online a whole lot easier.

Inline Glossary

Bridge terms in the lessons are automatically highlighted. When you see an unfamiliar Bridge term in a lesson, if you use your mouse to hover over the words (or on a mobile device click on the words), a short definition will be displayed as a small popup window. Try these examples: Bidding, Declarer

Often that is enough for you to understand the term and you can continue with the lesson without leaving the page, but if you need more detail, click on the popup to display the fully definition.

Practice Bridge games

Many of lessons include a practice game, often with full bidding and play commentary (see screenshot)

As a beginner, try playing the games by following the commentary. Then play the same game again without using the commentary.

More experienced players might like to try playing the game first (without reference to the commentary) then note the score you achieved to see if you can achieve a better score by following the commentary.

Screenshot of Game and Commentary

How the cards are represented

Bridge hands are displayed in one of  two formats.
  • The first is images of playing cards.
  • The second format commonly used in Bridge, is called ‘Bridge Notation’ and is a more compact method of displaying a hand of cards.
In the beginners lessons you will see both the playing cards and the bridge notation. Later lessons will only display the bridge notation format. Both formats use a four colour deck for easier identification of the suits.

Display of playing cards

Bridge Notation

  • A 3      -Ace and three of spades - AS, 3S

  • J T 6      -Jack, ten and six of hearts - JH, TH, 6H

  • 6 4 3 2      - Six, four, three and two of diamonds - 6D, 4D, 3D, 2D

  • K Q T 9     - King, queen, ten and nine of clubs - KC, QC, TC, 9C

*The ten of any suit is displayed as either 'T' or '10'

Many lessons will include an interactive quiz with instant feedback. Try the example below.





Instant Progress Quiz - Check the correct answer

 

  True

  False

Questions can be asked in the comment box below each lesson

Below each lesson is a comment section. If you have suggestions or questions about a lesson, please comment here and a support person or other class member will answer your question.

Responses

  1. Just wondering…does the computer keep bringing me back to the same hand till I “get it right”? Seems to me that I’m stuck on lesson 3 (016) of Quick Start (000).
    Also, I’d like to get help within the program. I’m encouraged to seek it, for example, in
    Reference to three lessons: develop your long suit, lose your losers, and the finesse. Where can I find these?

The Acol Bidding System

*If you live in the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand Acol is the most widespread system Acol has the following characteristics:
  • It is a natural system: most opening bids, responses and rebids are made with at least 4 cards in the suit bid, and most no trump bids are made with balanced hands.
  • It is a four-card major system: only four-card suits are required to open 1 or 1, unlike Standard American and many other systems where five-card suits are typically required.
  • It makes extensive use of limit bids: limit bids describe the hand so closely, in terms of high card points (HCP) and shape, that the one who makes the limit bid is expected to pass on the next round, unless partner makes a forcing bid.
  • Understanding and correct use of limit bids and forcing bids is fundamental to applying the system: all no trump bids below the level of 4NT are limit bids, as are all suit bids that merely repeat a suit already bid by the partnership; changes of suit may be forcing or not depending on the approach bids.
  • The level of the 1NT opening bid influences other bids: the normal choice is between a “weak no trump” (12–14 HCP) and a “strong no trump” (15–17 HCP).
  • All 1 of a suit opening bids then promise at least 4 cards in the bid suit
  • Notrump follow-up conventions include Stayman, Jacoby transfers Blackwood and Gerber Convention.