NANCY'S BRIDGE HOUSE offers a comprehensive curriculum of bridge instruction. Our program is specially designed to help students build upon their bridge skills, one step at a time. Students may enter the program at the appropriate level and may change or add levels when desired.

Upon completion of the first four courses offered at NANCY'S BRIDGE HOUSE, (Bidding, Conventions, Play of the Hand and Defense), our students are able to confidently play bridge in a home game or a club game. Although the study of bridge is a life-long endeavor, NANCY'S BRIDGE HOUSE program gives the player a solid foundation in the basics of bridge and a pathway to future expertise at the bridge table.

I BIDDING

This course, taught by Life Master Mary Peterson, covers an Introduction to bridge terms and concepts; NoTrump Opening Bids and Responses; Major Suit Opening Bids and Responses; and Minor Suit Opening Bids and Responses. Many opportunities for review and practice are built into the schedule. The BIDDINIG student is new to the game or returning after many years for a brush-up.

The course generally follows the material contained in the text "BRIDGE BASICS 1"( An Introduction) by well-known bridge author Audrey Grant.

II CONVENTIONS

This course, taught by Life Master Mary Peterson, covers essential competitive bidding techniques (Preemptive Opening Bids; Overcalls & Advances; Takeout Doubles; Negative Doubles; Penalty Doubles), and four of the most popular and widely-played conventions in bridge - the Stayman Convention; Jacoby Transfer Bids; Strong Opening Bids; and Slam Bidding. Students receive many opportunities to review in class and in practice games. CONVENTIONS students are familiar with the introductory concepts presented in the BIDDING series.

The course generally follows the material contained in the texts "BRIDGE BASICS 2" (Competitive Bidding) and "BRIDGE BASICS 3" (Popular Conventions) by well-known bridge author Audrey Grant.

III PLAY OF THE HAND

This course, taught by Silver Life Master Nancy Driscoll, covers all aspects of declarer play, including Developing Tricks through Promotion, Length and the Finesse; Eliminating Losers using the Ruff and the Discard; Watching out for Entries; Watching out for Opponents; Managing the Trump Suit; and Putting It All Together. The PLAY OF THE HAND student is familiar with the material and concepts presented in the BIDDING and CONVENTIONS courses.

The course generally follows the material covered in the text "PLAY OF THE HAND IN THE 21ST CENTURY, published by the ACBL.

IV DEFENSE

This course, taught by Silver Life Master Nancy Driscoll or Life Master Mary Peterson, covers all aspects of defense, including Opening Leads against NoTrump Contracts; Opening Leads against Suit Contracts; Third Hand Play; Second Hand Play; Defensive Signals; Developing Defensive Tricks; Interfering with Declarer, and Making a Plan. Students play in monthly bridge games using scoring, giving them a chance to exhibit their improving bridge skills. Play-of-the-hand techniques will also be reviewed during class and games. DEFENSE students are familiar with the concepts and conventions covered in the BIDDING, CONVENTIONS and PLAY OF THE HAND courses.

The course generally follows the material contained in the text "DEFENSE IN THE 21ST CENTURY", published by the ACBL.

V WORKSHOPS.

This course, taught by Silver Life Master Nancy Driscoll, is designed to fix the holes in your game. It is specifically offered for players with basic knowledge of modern bridge and some experience playing duplicate bridge who wish to advance their bridge skills.

Some of the topics that are covered during the Fall session are Stayman; Jacoby Transfers; Texas Transfers; Weak Two's; 2 Clubs (Strong); Take-out Doubles; Penalty Doubles; Negative Doubles; Blackwood; Gerber; 1430; Hamilton; Jacoby 2NT; Spinters; Cuebid Raises; and Control-Showing Cuebids. There are lots of practice hands, and students will have ample opportunity to ask questions.

The course generally follows material contained in the text "25 BRIDGE CONVENTIONS YOU SHOULD KNOW" by Barbara Seagram and Marc Smith.

VI ADVANCED/TOURNAMENT

Individualized instruction is available upon request for the advanced players who want to take their game to the next level.

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Nancy's Notes

The new year has started off with a BANG at Nancy's Bridge House! Mary and I are thrilled with the number of new students and returning students who have joined the Nancy's Bridge House family in 2012. Our classes (BIDDING and INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOPS) are completely filled and our Monday Night 99'er Game has built up to 10 tables. In case you haven't heard, we have expanded into the Main Building at the Live Oak Senior Center for our games to accommodate so many players. One more thing. . . I've decided to direct one Non-Life Master game monthly on Sunday afternoons. Check the schedule to see when the next one is scheduled.

THURSDAY WORKSHOPS FOR INTERMEDIATES

From January until the end of February, I will continue my popular series of 2-hour workshops on Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, covering a variety of beyond-beginner bridge topics. These workshops are designed for intermediate players who want to expand those bridge skills learned in the beginning classes or who want to reach the next plateau in their bridge game See "WORKSHOPS" page for specific dates and topics. The class fee is $10; reservations not required.

BIDDING CLASS (Beginners/Brush-Up)

Mary is now offering an 8-week beginner bridge course, called BIDDING This class will meet on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon. See "BIDDING" page for specific dates and topics. The class fee is $10; reservations not required.

One of the unique features of the NBH curriculum is that it is made up of four separate beginner courses: BIDDING, CONVENTIONS, PLAY OF THE HAND and DEFENSE. Each course follows in order, giving the beginning student the assurance that there will be 32 weeks of instruction covering nearly a full year. For continuing students, the certainty of the NBH schedule offers the opportunity to re-take those lessons/classes that may need a little more attention.

MONDAY NIGHT 99'ER GAME

I direct an ACBL-sanctioned duplicate game most Monday nights for players with fewer than 100 masterpoints. The game is held in the Main Building of the Live Oak Senior Center. You are welcome to bring your questions at 6 p.m. for a brief Q & A session, followed by the game. The game will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and usually wraps up by 9 p.m. This game is especially for players who want to hone their newly-acquired bridge skills in a friendly, fun atmosphere at an easy pace. The table fee is $7, which includes light refreshments. No sign-up is required. Bring your favorite partner or call me in advance at 477-9561 to arrange one for you. See "GAMES" page for specific dates.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON NLM GAME

Many of our continuing students are beginning to play in regular duplicate games and tournaments. In order to offer them a chance to work on their endurance and concentration, I'm directing a Non-Life Master game one Sunday afternoon a month. The game starts at 1 p.m.sharp, the table fee is $7 and you should bring your own partner. All members of Unit 550 and other bridge players in the community are invited to play in this full-length, competitive game. See "GAMES" page for specific dates.