Bridge Lessons

IMPROVE YOUR DECLARER PLAY Classes with Maritha Pottenger at the Soledad Club Monday mornings, 9:30-1:30 am June 28: COUNT HCP Certain “guesses” in bridge (such as playing the King or the Jack when you are missing the Ace and the Queen) become a “sure thing” if you listen to the bidding and pay attention to the cards that have been played. Counting your opponent’s high card points enables you to figure out who has what. Learn to make “Discovery Plays” in one suit in order to improve your “guessing” in another suit. July 5: BONUS HOUR for people not celebrating 4th of July with family. Anyone who wishes may come at 10 am for a Question-and-Answer session with Maritha from 10 to 11 am. July 12: COUNT DISTRIBUTION Counting “shape” around the table enables you to avoid “no win” plays (such as trumping in dummy when the bidding tells you that right-hand opponent will be out of the suit). You will be able to execute some end plays and choose the strategy that is likely to make your contract. July 19: WHEN   N O  T   TO FINESSE Bridge is full of “finessaholics.” Learn when to disdain that “practice” finesse (one you take for practice, but is NOT essential for your contract). Recognize situations when you cannot afford to finesse. July 26: Week Off (Maritha at Nationals in New Orleans) August 2: WHEN TO PULL TRUMPS & WHEN NOT TO PULL TRUMPS The proper timing of a hand involves pulling trumps as soon as you must—but not too soon. If you recognize different types of hands, you will do better in drawing trumps when you should. (This includes understanding when you can afford to draw only one round or perhaps two rounds, but not all the trumps.) August 9: CUT COMMUNICATION Just as the opponents want to sever ties between you and dummy, you would like to make it difficult for the opponents to communicate in all suits. Learn hold-up plays, Scissors Coup, ducking, and other techniques for creating difficulties in the opponents’ lines of communication. August 16: TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT (Basic Bridge Percentages) You don’t need to know high math to play good bridge. A few basic percentage (the odds of a finesse, the likelihood of a 3/2 division of cards, and a few more) will get your through 95% of the cases you need to consider. You want to choose the line of play that has the best odds to succeed. $66 for 6 weeks. Please mail checks to: Maritha Pottenger at: 3808  49th Street, San Diego, CA 92105. Or call: (619) 563-5140 or maritha@pacbell.net. (By e-mail, please put “bridge” in subject line.)