Free Standard American Bridge Lessons

Standard American - Free Bridge Lessons

Start learning bridge for free on the Online School of Bridge (OSOB)

If you're new to bridge and looking for a way to try it out, the Online School of Bridge’s (OSOB) free bridge lessons are the perfect place to begin. These lessons are ideal for beginners and players who are looking to refresh their bridge knowledge. You’ll learn to play using the Standard American bidding system, often called Standard and the basis of Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC), the most commonly used system played in the United States.

Our free lessons are created by Joan Butts, an internationally recognized bridge teacher and accomplished competitive player. Each lesson follows a clear, step-by-step structure and is thoughtfully designed for new learners. Delivered in an easy-to-access virtual format, you can start learning bridge online for free — all from the comfort of your home.

The OSOB makes learning bridge simple, approachable, and available whenever you're ready. Join thousands of learners across the globe and start your bridge journey today.

Why the Standard bidding system is your best path to success

Learning the Standard system is one of the smartest ways to get comfortable with bridge in the US. It’s the foundation of most social and club-level games, making it easy to join in and communicate effectively with other players. The OSOB’s free bridge lessons are written using the Standard American bidding system that is widely used and ideal for building strong bidding habits.

Once you're confident with Standard, you’ll find it much easier to move on to more advanced and modern bidding systems like 2/1 Game Forcing, which adds more depth and accuracy to your bidding strategy. By starting with Standard through our free bridge lessons online, you’re setting yourself up with a reliable system that supports your growth from beginner to seasoned player.

A propped tablet on a desk displays the modern bridge playing screen, including bidding and four hands

What You'll Learn in the Free Lessons

Basic rules of play, including following suit and winning tricks
Understanding the auction and what each bid communicates
How to evaluate your hand and decide whether to open the bidding
What it means to respond to your partner's bid
An introduction to scoring and how hands are judged

What's Included in the Free Version

These lessons gives you real experience with how bridge is played and the simple, easy to understand teaching method that Joan Butts is renowned for. Here’s what you’ll get access to in each free lesson:

Video Lessons

A series of video lessons explaining the basics of a bridge topic in the Standard bidding system

Guided Practice

Guided curated hands to practice what you’ve learned, helping you build your confidence step by step

Review Videos

Review videos where Joan show’s you exactly how to best play the hand that you just practiced

Key Bridge Terms

Key bridge terms and definitions clearly explained

Quizzes

Short quizzes let you check your understanding before moving on, helping you feel confident as you progress.

No Downloads Required

No downloads or special software required; just log in and learn

Try a FREE lesson!

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.

Why Choose the OSOB

The OSOB offers one of the most comprehensive bridge learning programs available — and it's the only place in the world where you can learn, practice, and play bridge all in one online platform. We bring together expert instruction, thoughtful structure, and flexible tools that support your journey every step of the way. Here's why it's the best place to begin your bridge education:

Learn to Play Bridge, One Step at a Time
Our free online bridge lessons follow a carefully organized curriculum developed by Joan Butts. Each lesson builds on the last, and concepts flow naturally from one to the next, helping you grow your knowledge step by step in a clear, manageable way. This structure ensures you're always reinforcing what you've learned while gradually introducing new techniques.
Play to Your Learning Preferences
We understand that everyone learns differently. That's why the OSOB combines video instruction, interactive practice bridge hand exercises, printable guides, and quizzes to cater to all learning styles. Whether you prefer watching, reading, or doing, you'll find a format that makes learning easy.
Set Your Own Pace
You don't need to keep up with a class or attend at specific times. These free bridge lessons are completely self-paced, so you can take your time, revisit materials, and learn when it suits you best. That flexibility makes the experience comfortable and pressure-free and is especially helpful if you're balancing other commitments.
See Your Progress as You Grow
The OSOB makes it easy to see how far you've come. Built-in progress tracking helps you monitor your lessons, keep track of what you've completed, and revisit any topic as needed. It's a great way to stay motivated and confident as you move forward on your bridge journey.

Learn from a globally competitive bridge player and teacher

You’ll learn from Joan Butts, a world-renowned Australian bridge teacher, accomplished player, and passionate advocate for the game.

Joan served as the Head of Education for the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF), where she developed a nationally recognized accreditation program for bridge teachers. Her experience as a globally competitive player brings real-world insight to every lesson, while her warm, accessible teaching style makes even complex concepts easier to grasp. More than just a teacher, Joan is a respected voice in the international bridge community and a dedicated spokesperson for the game.

Ready for More? Upgrade Anytime

If you enjoyed the free lessons (and we think you will), you can move on to more detailed instruction at your own pace.

Our beginner courses expand on what you’ve already learned. You’ll dive deeper into bidding structure, learn the importance of hand evaluation, and begin to recognize basic conventions used in Standard.

From there, the intermediate courses introduce the next level of strategy. You’ll work with conventions like Stayman and Jacoby Transfers, develop stronger bidding agreements with partners, and build confidence with slightly more competitive hands.

To access our beginner and intermediate courses, simply sign up for a Gold or Platinum Membership. You're welcome to explore each course to find the level that best fits your needs, or reach out to us if you’d like help getting started.

Join for free today

Thousands of players around the world have discovered bridge through Joan’s teaching, and now it’s your turn. If you’re looking for free bridge lessons online that are built for US play, this is the best place to begin. There’s no cost, no obligation, and no need to install anything. Just sign up, start the first free lesson, and explore what makes bridge such an engaging and rewarding game.

If you ever have any questions or need support, our team and community resources are always close by. You can browse our online shop for books, tools, and lesson materials to support your learning, visit our FAQs for quick answers to common questions, or contact us directly if you’d like more personalized guidance.

With us, you will see that bridge is not only a card game but a way of thinking, communicating, and connecting. Get started now and take your first step into the world of bridge with our free bridge lessons.