You arrange a four to play on BBO (I can help put players together). Each week I email eight random (but duplicate) deals to the host of each table to upload to BBO. You then have a few days to play these deals under ‘exam conditions’ and send in your results, if you want to. We then go through all aspects of the bidding and play, comparing results, in the scheduled Zoom session - with a weekly winner announced. Duplicate bridge with a lesson.
I am running courses for all levels including for absolute beginners, covering bidding and play – please see the current ONLINE SCHEDULE for available courses. Players receive a weekly course sheet and then have a few days to work through it. There are also four set deals to accompany each lesson which you can upload to play with friends on BBO, before we meet on Zoom to talk through the lesson, answer quizzes and ask questions.
90 minute supervised play sessions on BBO for up to four tables. The deals are themed and the same at each table, with everyone getting a share of the deals. Players can ask questions, have undos and are guided to the intended contract, with some guidance for play and defence. There are four sessions each week, with one session reserved for less experienced players. Sessions are pre-booked for the following week.
At this time, I would usually be getting ready for the new term in my Dulwich and Blackheath clubs, teaching private groups and running bridge holidays. But there is very little confidence for face-to-face bridge, whether or not government regulations allow it.
Club bridge will take time to return, perhaps only post-vaccine. We play our game at close quarters, with multiple shared surfaces, in venues with a lot of comings and goings. None of which can easily be controlled. As well as player confidence, I would not be happy running a session that might lead to a bad outcome. However, we will watch closely to see how the situation evolves, and what other bridge clubs are up to. For these reasons, Stocken Bridge will not be returning to The Rosendale in Dulwich, or to the bowls club in Blackheath for the foreseeable future. I will keep you posted when the situation changes. The good news is that bridge online, though not the same, is a great substitute.