[kenrexford]

So, a couple of friends want to learn to play bridge.

Of course, as often is the case, they may not know what is in store for them. The idea is that we are going on a week-long vacation as couples to Gatlinburg (not during the tournament), planning hiking, shopping, drinking. The usual.

But, at night, while drinking, we are supposed to teach them bridge.

Of course, that seems a daunting task.

So, any ideas on a method of teaching enough of the game to catch their interest fast, make the experience enjoyable, and leave them with a desire to learn more?

I mean, you don't whip out Audrey when drinking, IMO.

They have some background in spades, I believe.

[Trinidad]

Start with minibridge. It was meant for kids, but it makes perfect sense to use it for adults too.

Quick summary of the game:

All count HCPs (no distribution)
Everyone announces their HCPs (starting with the dealer, etc.).
The side with most HCPs will declare the contract. The player within that pair with the most points will declare. 20-20 hands are thrown in. If dummy and declarer have an equal amount of points, then the first to announce the points (i.e. closest to the dealer, first to bid) will declare.

Phase 1: play NT only.
Declarer needs to take 7 tricks. He scores 10 points per trick won + 10 points for playing NT (making gives 80 points, every overtrick is 10 points). Going down gives 50 to the opponents per down trick. In that phase you learn 1) How to take tricks (with aces) 2) How to develop tricks (by pushing aces out).
The opening lead is made, dummy is put down. After that it is bridge.

Phase 2: Add the possibility of a trump suit.
Declarer gets to see dummy's hand before the opening lead and can decide to play NT or in a suit. Either way declarer needs to take 7 tricks. If declarer plays in a major, he will score 10 points per trick + 5 for playing a major (if he makes). In a minor he will score 10 per trick - 10 for playing in a minor (if he makes). After the opening lead, dummy goes on the table.

Phase 3: Give declarer the option to play in game.
Declarer gets to see dummy and has the additional option to play in game. In that case, he will need to score 100 points (meaning 9 tricks in NT, 10 in a major or 11 in a minor, surprise ). If he makes his game, he gets 300 points game bonus.

I would start immediately with the duplicate way of keeping track of tricks won and lost.

When they know how to play minibridge, you can introduce bidding. SA according to Audrey Grant is fine (no transfers, no negative doubles, etc.).

Good luck, have fun,

Rik

[bill1157]

If they know spades, then mini-bridge (with some modification: i.e. add a slam bonus, to make it more interesting) would probably work great.
Also, play it for money or beers or something.

Bill

[olliebol]

Start with minibridge is a good idea. Introduce bidding on second night or so, but only in a strictly natural sense. Keep the lesson time limited to 15 minutes and play the rest of the evening.

In schedule: first night minibridge

Second night basic bidding. (explain it like an auction)

Third night game bonuses and slams.

Fourth night some basic bidding agreements.

Play for money the rest of the week

good luck!

[HeavyDluxe]

olliebol, on Sep 25 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

Introduce bidding on second night or so, but only in a strictly natural sense.

Thinking of Ken only bidding "in a strictly natural sense" makes me giggle.

[kenrexford]

HeavyDluxe, on Sep 25 2009, 09:59 AM, said:

olliebol, on Sep 25 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

Introduce bidding on second night or so, but only in a strictly natural sense.

Thinking of Ken only bidding "in a strictly natural sense" makes me giggle.

Yeah, I wasn't sure whether to start with canape, possibly moscito.

[bill1157]

olliebol, on Sep 25 2009, 09:39 AM, said:

Start with minibridge is a good idea. Introduce bidding on second night or so, but only in a strictly natural sense. Keep the lesson time limited to 15 minutes and play the rest of the evening.

In schedule: first night minibridge

Second night basic bidding. (explain it like an auction)

Third night game bonuses and slams.

Fourth night some basic bidding agreements.

Play for money the rest of the week

good luck!

One thing people may be overlooking is that mini-bridge (with some modification) is in many ways a better game than bridge, so introducing bidding on night 2 is certainly a mistake.
BTW I think mini-bridge would make a great online game. It would be to bridge what texas holdem is to stud poker: more amenable to online gambling.

Bill

[pdmunro]

I went to bridge lessons because my brother-in-law and my sister whipped me and my wife at bridge. I didn't know a thing about the game but that didn't worry my brother-in-law. He just likes to win.

So maybe don't teach your friends anything at first. Just let them bid what they like and learn that they will need to have a system.

[Tola18]

Talking about starting to teaching bidding.
A very basic strong club system may be the easiest to teach and learn.

No need to talk much about the reverses, jump bids, forcing sequences etc, Ie this ah so necessary to discriminate if it was a minimum, medium, very strong opening....


Some of it is of course on also with our basic strong club, but easier to grasp here, less points interwalls to discriminate between.


When teaching game and slam bonuses: with beginners, do write up a graphic over the requirements for bonuses: NT = 9 tricks, Majors = 10 tricks etc.
Do graphe it as stairs. Make a big picture of it, a "wall chart", so they see it with a glance.

For beginners it is entirely OK if you have the picture around also during the play.

[pirate22]

on a lighter note Teach them "LIE"

Deal out the pack however many players ,if last card odd that is trumps.
if all cards dealt out-then in sequence each deal s/h/d/c/nt
Person on left is first caller and he nominates how many tricks he will achieve,next player nominates number tricks,also next player same,now dealer adds up total tricks nominated and he must not call total possible,either one less or more
scoring those that achieve their forcast + 10,and loser/losers just score what the achieve.
first one to 100 wins . but see * below
this teaches timing,finessing,ducking,under sluffing--be it haphazard,but it gets the competitive juices going-and a bonus of 20 if you call 0

If 4 players --first deal 13 cards each--next deal 12 cards-next deal 11 cards down to 1 card-and back up to 13 cards.**** highest total wins-it get serious if one plays 1p a point to the winner deducted from winners total

If 7 or more players play with 2 packs