Bridge Lessons For Beginners

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Bridge lessons for beginners

If you’re new to bridge, Joan Butts Online School of Bridge (OSOB) is the perfect place to start. My bridge lessons for beginners make learning the game incredibly simple and fun. Whether you’re playing casually or aiming to be competitive, I’ll help you build the skills you need to become a confident and strategic player.
Bridge is a game of strategy, logic and partnership. Here’s what you’ll explore in my beginner’s lessons:
Your bridge learning journey
Mastering bridge basics

Mastering the basics of bridge is essential for every hand you’ll play. In my beginner lessons, you’ll dive into the core mechanics, learn the scoring system and become familiar with key terms. Together, we’ll also practise foundational strategies and build on them as we go.

Understanding the roles

Bridge is about teamwork and the role of each player. From opener to responder, you’ll learn what each role entails and how they contribute to the game during my bridge lessons for beginners. Understanding each role will help you plan better strategies with your partner.

Bidding techniques

Bidding is central to bridge, setting the tone for each hand. We introduce the basics of bidding, from the two-bid to understanding cues, with easy-to-follow examples. You’ll also get familiar with bridge bidding systems like Standard American, Acol and Two Over One Game Force.

Why learn bridge on the Online School of Bridge?

With 30 years of experience and a deep passion for teaching, I’ve created a learning approach that makes bridge accessible and enjoyable for everyone. My School is divided into Beginner, Intermediate and Experienced bridge courses, to help you easily choose different bridge skills to improve. Here’s what makes my online bridge lessons for beginners unique:
Comprehensive Curriculum

With seven Beginner bridge courses made up of hundreds of lessons, you can choose activities that help you learn best. From videos and written notes, to quizzes and bridge hands you can practise, you'll be confident learning new bridge skills in no time.

Guided learning path

I use a spiral learning approach, where each topic is introduced in manageable steps and revisited with deeper detail. This method supports steady improvement and helps beginners gradually transition into more advanced gameplay with ease.

Track your progress

My online bridge lessons for beginners are designed with convenience in mind. Whether you prefer to engage in short bursts or dive into longer sessions, you can tailor your learning experience and engage with the content from any device.

Supportive community

Join a worldwide network of bridge players who share a passion for the game. You’ll be able to discuss strategies, track progress and build friendships around a shared love of the wonderful game ofbridge.

Learn from a world-class bridge educator, Joan Butts

Joan Butts brings decades of experience, international playing credentials, and a trusted teaching style to every lesson. She has represented Australia at world championship level and has taught thousands of students across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the United States. Her teaching materials are trusted by clubs and learners alike for their clarity and practical approach.

Try a FREE beginner bridge lesson!

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To access any free lesson, just create an account by providing your name and email address. No payment or credit card details are needed to try my free lessons.

Learn bridge by enrolling in the Online School of Bridge today!

The most rewarding moment in teaching bridge is watching beginners discover their own potential. I’ve had the privilege of guiding thousands of students around the world to that transformative moment, and I can’t wait to help you discover what you’re capable of — let’s get started!

Monthly

$10 AUD/month

  • No bridge lessons - play unlimited random hands only
  • Fortnightly bridge eNewsletter
  • Cancel anytime
Most
Popular

Monthly

$ 30 AUD/month

  • Access 20+ bridge courses and 1000s of lessons
  • Play unlimited random bridge hands
  • Weekly eNewsletter with bridge tips from Joan
  • Cancel anytime

Monthly

$ 50 AUD/month

  • Access 20+ bridge courses and 1000s of lessons
  • Play unlimited random bridge hands
  • Weekly eNewsletter with bridge tips from Joan
  • PLUS
  • Joan's Live Online Lessons for free
  • Join the Platinum Community
  • Cancel anytime

Annual

Buy 11 months, get one free!

$360

$ 330 AUD/year

  • Access 20+ bridge courses and 1000s of lessons
  • Play unlimited random bridge hands
  • Weekly eNewsletter with bridge tips from Joan
  • Cancel anytime
Best
Value

Annual

Buy 11 months, get one free!

$600

$ $550 AUD/year

  • Access 20+ bridge courses and 1000s of lessons
  • Play unlimited random bridge hands
  • Weekly eNewsletter with bridge tips from Joan
  • PLUS
  • Joan's Live Online Lessons for free
  • Join the Platinum Community
  • Cancel anytime
FAQs

Not at all. You can start learning bridge on your own. My online bridge lessons are designed so you can practice and improve without needing a partner. You’ll pick up the basics, and you’ll be able to apply what you’ve learned in bridge games for beginners or friendly sessions with others.

If you're keen to get hands-on straight away, the Play Bridge: A Workbook for the Absolute Beginner is a great place to start. It’s ideal if you're looking to learn how to play bridge as a beginner.

Most people start to feel comfortable with the basics of bridge after a few weeks of learning and practice. My beginner-friendly approach helps break down each part of the game into manageable steps, so you’re never overwhelmed.

The Online School of Bridge offers bridge lessons you can complete at your own pace, with plenty of support as you go. You don’t need to rush. It's all about learning the skills and enjoying the process.

Yes, it’s one of the easiest and most flexible ways to get started. My online bridge lessons let you learn when it suits you, revisit topics as often as you like, and access guided lessons from anywhere. You’ll also become familiar with interactive bridge games for beginners to help reinforce what you've learned.

With my bridge courses, you’re supported from the very first hand through to more advanced strategies. It’s one of the most convenient ways to learn bridge online.

The best place to start is with the free beginner lesson, The Mechanics. It gives you a simple introduction to how to play bridge as a beginner. From there, you can move into the full beginner program of seven courses inside the Online School of Bridge, which covers everything from bridge rules to bidding strategies.