Houston Card School
2010 Class Schedule

 

 

These are the classes currently scheduled by Houston Card School. If you have an interest in something particular that is not listed you can be added to my Notifications email List. Members of this list get an email when a new class is posted. If there is a class topic you would like to see you can email me with your request. gary@houstoncardschool.com.

 

 

 

 

 

To pre-register for any class....
Send name, address, telephone, and email address along with class fee to:
Houston Card School
PO Box 752652
Houston, TX 77275

You may make checks payable to Houston Card School

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Beginning Fundamentals of Contract Bridge

 

 

The absolute best way to become successful at this game is get a solid foundation in the fundamentals. Most bridge players learn from friends or family and I find they have large gaps in basic understanding. These gaps cause problems with later progress.

This class is designed to provide that solid foundation. Although it starts with no assumption about any understanding it is a great primer for those that played some but need direction as well as though that have never played at all.

At the end of this class you will be ready to play in any local party game, office lunch-time game, or novice duplicate game.

 

 

 

 

 

Dates: Eight (8) Lesson – Wednesday Evenings – February 10, 17, 24  March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

 

 

Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm

 

 

Where: Houston Bridge Studio

 

 

Class Fee: $125

 

 

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Constructive Bidding for the Intermediate Player

 

 

Six (6) weeks with a close examination of the bidding approach on those hands where your partnership opens the bidding. Centered around Standard American five-card major style; the class will cover opener and responder responsibilities, bidding balanced hands, major suit auctions, minor suit auctions, forcing 2C openings, preempts, hand evaluation, and passed hand bidding. The topic each week will cover not only the natural bids and developments but a presentation of treatments and conventions that will improve your bidding accuracy. This is a must for the duplicate student of the game.

Hand Evaluation

Everyone gets the easy hands right, what you want to work on is what to do on those hands right on the edge. You have heard people talk about a “good” 12 or a “bad” 12 but what does that mean?

 

Bidding Balanced Hands

Point count works very well on balanced hands so it is critical to have narrow and specific ranges to describe balanced hands. Together we will build a set of tools that allows for appropriate exploration.

 

Major Suit Auctions

The major suits are critical for success so we need more ways to support and raise opener’s major opening. We will discuss the many nuances of responses and rebids.

 

Minor Suit Auctions

If you do not have a major suit after partner opens a minor then many players get off into uncharted territory. Tools will be presented that allows for weak and strong action.

 

Strong 2C Openings and Responses

What hands qualify and how should responder act? Just who is in charge anyway?

 

Preempts

A different requirement for every seat. We will define the expectations so that it is no longer a guess.

 

Passed Hand Bidding

Everything changes once you are a passed hand. What is a jump shift? Is Drury really worth it?

 

 

 

 

 

Dates: Six (6) lessons – Thursday Evenings – February 11, 18, 25  March 4, 11, 18

 

 

Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm

 

 

Where: Houston Bridge Studio

 

 

Class Fee: $100

 

 

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Beginning Play of the Hand

 

 

- Perfect for those players just starting the game

- Ideal as a review for those that have played but have never taken formal instruction

- Designed as the follow up class to Beginning Bridge Fundamentals

- Complete coverage of all the fundamentals of declarer play

- Improve your skills

- Take more tricks

- Make more hands

- Learn about trick development

- Making a Plan

- Take it as an individual, with a partner, or a group

 

 

 

 

 

Dates: Eight (8) lessons – Saturday Mornings – March 13, 20, 27  April 10, 24  May 8, 15, 22

 

 

Time: 10:00am – Noon

 

 

Where: Houston Bridge Studio

 

 

Class Fee: $125

 

 

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Conventions You Should Know
Six Bidding Tools Every Duplicate Player Needs

 

 

HOW DO I KNOW IF THIS CLASS IS RIGHT FOR ME?

When players first enter the world of duplicate bridge one of the first things that becomes obvious is the number of conventions that most every partnership plays. Unfortunately, most players learn these conventions by word of mouth and fail to understand the reasoning behind their use. The tendency is also to never get a true depth of understanding about follow-ups, interference, proper application. This class will correct that problem.

 

DO I NEED A PARTNER?

An understanding of these conventions is necessary for successful duplicate play and if can take the class with partner your effective use of these tools will be enhanced. However, simply studying these techniques will also improve your game as you will have a better understanding of the opponents auctions. The class will be a discussion style, so no partner is necessary.

 

WHICH CONVENTIONS WILL BE COVERED?

A total of six conventional bidding tools will be covered in depth. These six conventions represent what I believe to be the most useful and most frequently seen in actual play. A solid understanding of these is necessary even if you choose not to play them with your regular partner. Understanding what the opponents are bidding is just as important.


Class #1 - Mar 25th - Conventional Doubles

Negative Doubles

Responsive Doubles

Class #2 - Apr 1st - No Trump Auctions

Jacoby and Texas Transfer Bids

Lebensohl


Class #3 - Apr 8th - Suit Shortness Auctions

Jacoby 2NT

Splinter Bids

 

 

 

 

 

Dates: Three (3) lessons – Thursday Evenings – March 25  April 1, 8

 

 

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

 

 

Where: Houston Bridge Studio

 

 

Class Fee: $50

 

 

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Supervised Practice for Beginning Players

 

 

WHAT IS SUPERVISED PRACTICE?

This class is designed specifically for those students just coming out of any of the Beginning classes or for those just starting out playing the game. Each you will play randomly-dealt hands. On some of the class meetings I will bring a few pre-dealt hands for you to play. I will be moving from table to table to help where needed, answer questions, or to keep things on track. This is an ideal way to put into practice and learn material that was presented in the various beginning classes.

 

WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO LEARN?

The pre-dealt hands have been selected to reinforce fundamentals including opening, responding, rebids, overcalls, doubles, opening leads, declarer’s plan, signals, and discards. The randomly-dealt hands might be anything.

 

DO I NEED A PARTNER?

Obviously taking the class with a regular partner will improve your partnership, but a partner is not required. I will arrange partnerships for the class as required. As much as possible I will match up players of similar experience. This is also a great way to meet other players and form your own partnerships!

 

HOW DIFFICULT ARE THE HANDS?

Each hand is planned to illustrate a lesson on some aspect of bidding, play, and defense. Depending upon your prior experience each participant may take away different things. The hands will range from challenging to simple fundamental reinforcement, but the things you take away from this workshop will improve the various aspects of your game and your understanding of partner.

 

 

 

 

 

Dates: Six (6) lessons – Wednesday Evenings – April 7, 21  May 5, 12, 19, 26

 

 

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

 

 

Where: Houston Bridge Studio

 

 

Class Fee: $75

 

 

Class Flyer  Ask a Question