Joan Butts Bridge » Learn Bridge

July August Lessons

Joan Butts — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:18:20 +0000

Lessons July August September 2010

*Venue*	*Address*	*Lesson Topics*	*Dates*	*Times*
*Brisbane Polo Club*	1 Eagle St City		*MONDAYS*	9.30 – 11.30
		*Blackwood Convention*	02 August
		*Opener’s Rebid & Responder’s Rebid*	06 September
*Brother Rugby Union Club*	Crosby Rd Albion	*DAY* (INTERMEDIATE)	*WEDNESDAYS*	10 – 12.00am
		*Responding to 1NT*	14 July	10.00 – 12.00
		*More on Doubles*	21 July
		*When NOT to Draw Trumps*	28 July
		*EVENING* (INTERMEDIATE)		6.30 – 8.30
		*Takeout Doubles*	14 July
		*Forcing or Not?*	21 July
		*The Finesse*	28 July
		*DAY* ( ADVANCED)	*WEDNESDAYS*	10 – 12.00am (free Duplicate)
		*Cue Bidding to Slam*	18 August
		*2/1 Revisited*	25 August
		*More on Forcing 1NT*	1 September
*Gold Coast Bridge* *Club*	Gold Coast Highway	*Cue Bidding to Slam*	*FRIDAY* 06 August	10.00am
*Indooroopilly Golf Club*	Meiers Rd Indooroopilly	*BEGINNERS COURSE* 4 lessons	*MONDAYS* July 26, August 2,9,16	1.30 – 3.30
*Gympie Bridge Club*		*2 INTERMEDIATE WORKSHOPS*	*SATURDAY* 10 July	10.00 – 3.00
		*Commonly Made Mistakes*		10 – 12.00
		*Competitive Bidding Decisions – Doubles*		1 – 3.00
*Queensland Club*			*MONDAYS*	5.30 – 7.30
(Members only)		*Opener’s Rebid & Responder’s Rebid*	19 July
		*Entries are Everything*	26 July

May June Lessons

brent — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:26:40 +0000

Enrol now for any of these courses, by emailing Joan or calling 0413772650.

BEGINNERS

Day: Brisbane Polo Club, Mondays 10 – 12, to start May 10. (Then 17,24,31 June 7,21)

Night: Brothers Rugby Union Club (new venue) Wednesdays 6-8pm, to start May 5. (Then 12,19,26,June 2,9)

Charges: $100 for the course of six lessons.

INTERMEDIATES

Day: Brisbane Polo Club, 3 Thursdays 10 – 12, May 20, 27, June 3

(1) Strong Opening Hands.

(2) Slam Bidding

(3) Weak 2′s and Preempts

Night: Brothers Rugby Union Club 3 Wednesday nights 6-8, May 26, June 2,16

(Same topics as day time)

ADVANCED

Day: Brothers Rugby Union Club 3 Wednesday mornings 10 – 12, May 19,26 June 2

(1) Transfers over 1NT & 2NT

(2) Strong Responding Hands

(3) New Minor Forcing, 4th Suit Forcing

All Lessons are $18 per lesson for members, $20 for non- members.

Wednesday Night Lessons Beginner and Intermediate in May

brent — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:06:52 +0000

I will be giving three Intermediate lessons on Wednesday nights, from 6.30 – 8.30, in April.
Regular players as well as the beginners who have just finished are welcome.
(1) Bidding (Doubles) Wed 14 April
(2) Play – Counting Winners and Losers Wed 21 April
(3) Defence – Opening Leads and Signals Wed 28 April
$18 per lesson for members $20 for non members. Notes included.

The next Beginners Bridge course will start on Wednesday 5th May, from 6.00 – 8.00 (Brothers Rugby Union Club). 6 x 2 hour lessons. Course is $100
Daytime beginners will start on Monday 10 May at the Polo Club, from 10 – 12.00

These lessons will be held at the Clayfield Bowls Club.
We will be moving to Brothers Rugby Union Club (Crosby Rd Albion) for all bridge games and lessons on Tuesdays Wednesdays and Fridays, from Tuesday 4 May.
Happy Easter

Lessons at Indooroopilly Golf Club

brent — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:15:21 +0000

Here are the details of Advanced and Intermediate lessons planned for Monday afternoons at Indooroopilly Golf Club.
2 Advanced Lessons
MONDAY 29 MARCH – MAJOR SUIT RAISES
1.15 – 3.15:
(1) Limit, Constructive and Pre-emptive Raises
MONDAY 19 APRIL – STRONG MAJOR SUIT RAISES
1.15 – 3.15:
(2) Jacoby 2NT and Splinter Bids

3 Intermediate Lessons
(1) MONDAY17 MAY – BIDDING
1.15 – 3.15
2 Important Conventions
STAYMAN & TRANSFERS OVER NO TRUMP OPENINGS

(2) MONDAY 24 MAY
1.15 – 3.15
PLAY. Entries are Everything.
COUNTING WINNERS AND LOSERS

(3) MONDAY 31 MAY
1.15 – 3.15 Defence.
KEEPING COMMUNICATION WITH PARTNER’S HAND IN THE DEFENCE

The lessons will be suitable for players with intermediate bridge experience to regular players
Costs: $18.00 per lesson includes notes

Lesson Notes Wednesday Nov 18 Jacoby 2NT

Joan Butts — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:11:09 +0000

Jacoby 2NT

Suppose partner opens 1♠, and you have the following hand:

♠ K1084

♥AJ7

♦ AQJ6

♣ 83

If you play limit raises (10-12 pts), you can’t afford to bid 3♠ since partner might pass. With 15 HCP plus 1 shortage point for the doubleton club, you want to reach at least the game level, even if partner has a minimum for the opening bid.

In keeping with the raise to 2♠ showing 6-9 points, and the raise to 3♠ showing 10 – 12 points, the most natural progression would seem to be to raise to game with 13 or more points. This would give up the use of 4♠ as a preemptive raise (5 trumps and 6-9 pts), and would not leave room to explore for the possibility of a slam contract without getting past the game level.

Oswald Jacoby developed the idea of using the 2NT response to show a forcing raise.

This conventional response, known as Jacoby 2NT, is now very popular.

A response of 2NT to an opening bid of 1♥ or 1♠ shows a game-forcing raise of the major suit and asks for a further description of opener’s hand.

This convention gives up the natural meaning of a 2NT response – a balanced hand with a desire to play in no trump. You are compensated by having more room to explore for slam when you have a fit and at least enough strength for game.

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

Responder needs 13 or more total points to use Jacoby 2NT

Responder should have four–card support for the major suit to use Jacoby 2NT. With enough strength for the game level, but only three trumps, responder can start by bidding a new suit and then take opener to game in the major suit.

Jacoby 2NT is only used in response to major-suit opening bids, 1♥ or 1♠. When partner opens the bidding 1♣ or 1♦, you are usually looking for a major-suit fit, or to play in no trumps, before agreeing to play with the minor suit as trumps.

Opener’s rebid after Jacoby 2NT

The first consideration is for opener to show shape regardless of the strength of the hand – either shortness in a side suit or length in a side suit

The bid of a new suit at the 3-level shows shortness in that suit, a singleton or void (eg 1♥ p 2NT p 3♣/♦/♠ = a singleton or void in the suit bid)

A jump to the 4- level in a new suit shows at least five cards in that suit, and a very good suit (eg 1♥ p 2NT p ♣/♦/♠ = a good second suit)

With no extreme distribution to describe (no singleton or void or second suit), opener makes a bid that describes the strength of the hand

With minimum strength, (12-14), jump to game. It’s the most discouraging bid opener can make in terms of slam interest (eg 1♠ p 2NT p 4♠

With medium strength, (15-17), rebid 3NT (eg 1♠ p 2NT p 3NT). That’s if you haven’t already described the hand by opening 1NT

With maximum strength, (18+), rebid the agreed trump suit at the three level (eg 1♠ p 2NT p 3♠)

After opener has described the hand, responder can decide whether to pursue slam possibilities or settle for game in the major suit.

Bridge Software

Joan Butts — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:44:39 +0000

BridgeMaster 2000 Software By Fred Gitelman: King

Bridge Master for Windows is an educational computer program that is certain to improve your declarer play technique. The program will present you with a series of instructional bridge deals to play. Bridge Master always defends perfectly. If you make a mistake as declarer, your contract will be defeated. Each deal is accompanied by an animated "bridge movie" that explains the correct line of play as well as the reasoning that leads to the solution. In this edition, Audrey Grant has designed 117 deals specifically covering basic play technique. There are also 30 more advanced deals included. Additional sets of deals are available.

BridgeMaster 2000 Software By Fred Gitelman: (Audrey Grant) Queen

ACBL Series & books by Audrey Grant

Joan Butts — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:33:22 +0000

ACBL The ‘Diamond’ – Play the Hand

(Declarer Play) A classic on bridge play, a standard essential text book, using the five techniques for developing tricks.

ACBL The ‘Heart" – Defence

(Defence) A classic on defence.

ACBL Commonly Used Conventions

This book covers many of the conventions commonly used in tournament bridge. It includes the Stayman Convention, Jacoby Transfers, Jacoby 2NT, Drury, Truscott, Fourth Suit Forcing, Weak Two-Bids and Responses, and the Strong 2 Opening and Responses. There are extensive exercises at the end of each chapter along with sample deals showing the conventions in action.

ACBL Commonly More Used Conventions

This book continues where Commonly Used Conventions left off. It includes Negative Doubles, Redoubles, Landy, Michaels, Unusual Notrump, Blackwood, Gerber, Cuebidding, Leads, Signals, and Two-Over-One Game Forcing. Cards & teachers manuals available with each.

EZ Cards: ACBL The ‘Diamond’

Assistance card for the ‘Diamond’.

EZ Cards: ACBL The ‘Heart’

Assistance card for the ‘Heart’.

EZ Cards: ACBL Commonly Used Conventions

Assistance card for the Commonly Used Conventions.

EZ Cards: ACBL Commonly More Used Conventions

Assistance card for the Commonly More Used Conventions.

Better Bridge Series: Using Your Judgement: The Opening Bid

Better Bridge Series: Using Your Judgement: The Opening Bid. The first call has an impact on the bidding, play and defense of the entire deal. This book introduces concepts that will have you confident and capable of making good decisions when you are in a position to open. It includes the Guidelines of 15 and 20, light opening bids, pre-emptive bids and strong 2 Clubs.

Better Bridge: Doubles

Understanding the many uses of the double can dramatically improve your game. This book reviews the basics and introduces tools to improve your judgment. It covers takeout doubles, advancing the double, rebids by the doubler and advancer, balancing and other doubles.

Competitive Bidding

This book covers the concepts needed when both sides are bidding for the contract. It introduces the basic competitive tools–preemptive opening bids, overcalls, and takeout doubles. The concepts and information presented are the most current available, developed with the assistance of the game’s top champions.

Competitive Bidding: Coded Cards

The coded cards for Bridge Basics 2 are 32 different deals, indicated by the boxes numbered 1-32 on the back of each card. Each box is color-coded to show which player is dealt the card. An underline indicates the dealer. The cards compliment the Bridge Basics 2 textbook.

Better Bridge Series: Popular Conventions

It covers everything from playing at a party table to a tournament table; Popular Conventions teaches you the core conventions that will strengthen your game for sure. It introduces you to the Stayman conventions, Jacoby transfer bids, the strong artifical two club opening, Blackwood and Gerber. This book gives you a chance to get ahead and win!

Bridge at a Glance

Bridge At a Glance is a quick reference of the material in the award-winning Audrey Grant Bridge Basics series.These summaries work in conjunction with the books which present the reasoning behind the guidelines.

Two-Over-One Game Force

NEW BOOK by Audrey Grant & Eric Rodwell. A popular variation of Standard American bidding methods. The reader is shown how a small modification can make it easier for the partnership to get to the best game contract, and explore the possibility of slam. It also describes how using a response of 1NT as a forcing bid can improve the partnership results, even on partscore hands.

The book is filled with helpful features such as summaries, quizzes, and carefully constructed sample deals at the end of each chapter. Additional practice deals give the reader an opportunity to become more familiar with each of the concepts introduced in Two-Over-One Game Force.

Book by Joan Butts

Joan Butts — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:00:56 +0000

Play Bridge: A Workook (Teacher Edition)

Lesson plans for teachers to follow. The book starts has a minibridge approach, designed to have students playing the game quickly. Written in eight chapters, it is ideal for four, six or eight lessons, and covers basic play techniques, and an intro to bidding at the 1-level only. Competitive bidding is introduced in the last chapter. Each hand from the book, (32 hands), may be practised online with an explanation from Joan to match.

Play Bridge: A Workook (Student Ediiton)

For students. The book starts has a minibridge approach, designed to have students playing the game quickly. Written in eight chapters, it is ideal for four, six or eight lessons, and covers basic play techniques, and an intro to bidding at the 1-level only. Competitive bidding is introduced in the last chapter. Each hand from the book, (32 hands), may be practised online with an explanation from Joan to match.

A Guide By Your Side

A summary of the basics to be used at the table

Practice Your Bridge

32 hands with analysis for supervised play. Ideal for post beginners practise sessions, with 32 hands closely matching the beginners text, in bidding and play.

Openings Other Than One Bids

Four workshops with practice hands (also available online) to introduce students to bids other than at the 1-level. Uses a Strong 2♣ and weak 2♦, 2♥ and 2♠ and higher pre-empts. Suitable for players of 6+months experience.

Partnership Defence

Written by Audrey Grant, the world famous Canadian teacher, this booklet has suggestions of working with partner to understand each other’s opening leads, and signals. There are eight carefully selected hands to practise, with analysis.

Introduction to the Two Over One System

A very popular addition to the Standard system that improves bidding with strong hands while looking for a fit, and also clears up major suit raises. The concept of a forcing 1NT response is also explored.

Marty Bergen Books

Joan Butts — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:57:46 +0000

Marty A. Bergen (born 1948) is an American bridge player and writer. A 10-time national champion and American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Grand Life Master he retired from active competition in 1993. He is still a prolific bridge writer and is a World Bridge Federation (WBF) World International Master.

He has had a column in the Master Pointers section of ACBL Bridge Bulletin since 1976. He has also written 22 bridge books, two of which won the Bridge Book of the Year award, namely Points Schmoints!: Bergen’s Winning Bridge Secrets in 1996 and Declarer Play the Bergen Way in 2005.

Marty’s newest books are “Slam Bidding Made Easier” and “Better Slam Bidding the Bergen Way” (the companion workbook) and are now available directly from Marty.

Bergen is well-known for his development of new conventions and treatments, including DONT and Bergen raises. Together with his long-time bridge partner Larry Cohen, he popularized the law of total tricks, support double, and 1NT semi-forcing.

In addition to conducting bridge cruises, he now teaches and writes in Florida, where he lives with his wife Cheryl and dogs, Muffie and Casey.