Explore the world of bridge with our free lessons

Are you intrigued by the intellectual challenge of bridge? Start your journey with our comprehensive free bridge lessons for beginners.

We at Joan Butts Online School of Bridge believe that learning the basics of bridge should be accessible to everyone. That's why we offer free bridge lessons for beginners without prior experience or payment. These lessons focus on the key principles and strategies of the game, providing you with a solid foundation.

The mechanics of bridge

Our free bridge lessons for beginners guide you through the core aspects of playing bridge to enhance your problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, setting you on the path to becoming a keen player. You'll explore everything from the game's basic rules to the initial strategies you need to start your bridge journey.

Why learn with the Online School of Bridge

I, Joan Butts, am a globally recognised competitive bridge player and teacher with over three decades of experience in teaching the game to thousands of students worldwide. 

I’ve represented Australia four times in world championships and have been instrumental in shaping bridge education as the National Teaching Coordinator with the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF) — a position I held for 12 years. During this time, I created the ABF Teacher Accreditation Programme, developing innovative methodologies to train countless bridge teachers across the country. 

My real passion is teaching bridge. So, in 2017, I launched the Online School of Bridge, home to hundreds of carefully curated lessons, interactive hands using robots to play, hand video reviews, student notes and quizzes. In July 2023, I moved the Online School onto a modern educational platform following a spiral learning curriculum. 

With every online lesson, I aim to help students improve their bridge skills with bite-sized, achievable activities, making this wonderful game simple, fun and easy to understand for all.

Get started with our free lessons

Signing up for our free bridge lessons is straightforward. Simply create an account with your name and email address — no payment or credit card is required. This easy access ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or financial situation, can learn and enjoy the game of bridge.

Try a FREE bridge lesson today!

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The Mechanics

Playing bridge is a great way to improve your mental fitness by playing cards. In this lesson, you will be introduced to the essential elements of the game.

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More Suit Play

When you plan to develop extra tricks in suits, there are two extra possibilities at your disposal. Not only do you have Promotion, Length and Finesse, you now have the possibility of using the trump suit, and discarding losers on winners.

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Splinter Raises

A splinter is a jump, usually by responder, to a level beyond that which has a natural meaning. It shows a hand with four + card trump support, and a singleton or void in the suit bid. Learn how to manage Splinter Raises in this lesson.

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Acol vs Standard American

In this free lesson, learn the main differences and similarities in these bidding systems opening suits, four card and five card.

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FREE RANDOM HAND

Click here to try a free hand.

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TRANSITION TO TWO OVER ONE GAME FORCE

Click here to try this free bridge lesson.

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Choose the membership that suits you!

Monthly

$10 /month

Become a Silver Member
  • Play unlimited random hands
  • Fortnightly general eNewsletter
  • Cancel anytime

Monthly

$ 30 /month

Become a Gold Member
  • Play unlimited random hands
  • Access the entire Lesson Library (21 courses)
  • Weekly eNewsletter with extra tips from Joan
  • Cancel anytime
Most
Popular

Monthly

$ 50 /month

Become a Platinum Member
  • Play unlimited random hands
  • Access the entire Lesson Library (21 courses)
  • PLUS
  • Joan's Live Online Lessons for free
  • Join our Platinum Community
  • Cancel anytime

Annual

Buy 11 months, get one free!

$360

$ 330 /year

Become a Gold Member
  • Play unlimited random hands
  • Access the entire Lesson Library (21 courses)
  • Weekly eNewsletter with extra tips from Joan
  • Cancel anytime
Best
Value

Annual

Buy 11 months, get one free!

$600

$ $550 /year

Become a Platinum Member
  • Play unlimited random hands
  • Access the entire Lesson Library (21 courses)
  • PLUS
  • Joan's Live Online Lessons for free
  • Join our Platinum Community
  • Cancel anytime
Frequently Asked Questions
Our free bridge lessons are created for anyone interested in learning how to play bridge. Whether you’re a total beginner or aiming to refine your technique, these lessons cater to all levels — perfect for enhancing your problem-solving skills and thinking more strategically.
Not at all. These bridge lessons online are free of charge, and there is one to try for beginner, intermediate and experienced bridge players. If you’re a beginner, there is no need to have prior knowledge — just a willingness and passion to learn and have fun.
Absolutely. People of all ages can enjoy bridge as it is a social, mentally engaging game. It’s a great way to connect with others while keeping your mind active.

Once you've completed the free bridge lessons, you can continue advancing your skill set by signing up for a Silver, Gold or Platinum membership.

  • Silver Membership ($10/month) — Play unlimited random hands and receive a general eNewsletter every fortnight.
  • Gold Membership ($30/month) — Includes everything in the Silver membership, plus access to the complete Lesson Library (20+ courses) and a weekly eNewsletter featuring exclusive tips from Joan.
  • Platinum Membership ($50/month) — Includes all Gold benefits, plus free access to Joan’s live online lessons and entry into the Platinum Community.

The Online School of Bridge (OSOB) lessons cover all the essential elements of bridge, including bidding, play strategies and partnership communication. Each video and practice hand is designed to build your understanding in a clear and enjoyable way.

To access our free online bridge lessons, simply create a personal account by providing your name and email address — no credit card required.
Yes! These free online bridge lessons are a great way to learn with your loved ones. Feel free to share the page link with anyone who might be interested.