Lessons, Tutorials and Seminars

Learn how to play bridge

Lessons for Beginners

If you’re looking to try something different Bridge is the ultimate card game. 

Welcome to our series of Beginners’ Lessons. The course (based on the Acol system) consists of twelve modules presented weekly. The first two FREE INTRODUCTORY modules have you learning to play straight away. Then for the small cost of $20.00 to cover the teaching material, you will have expert, friendly tuition and continued support at the end of lessons. 

You can come solo, with a friend, or in a group, young or old, all are welcome.

Make friends for life! Boost your memory! Develop deductive skills!

GYM FOR THE BODY and BRIDGE FOR THE BRAIN.


Teaching Materials


Courses for 2026:

Block 1: Wednesdays, 28 January - 22 April at 7.00pm for a 7:10pm start

Block 2: Mondays, 4 May - 27 July  at 7:20pm for a 7:30pm start

Block 3: TBC


Click on the button below to access a copy of the Lesson Enrolment Form.

Lesson Enrolment Form

Back-to-Bridge Refresher Lessons for 2026

For those returning to Bridge, a 6-week Refresher 


Course will be held on:

Mondays, February 2, 9, 16, 23, March 2, 9 at 7.20pm for a 7:30pm start.


Cost: $30

No partner is required.

Tutorials

Wednesday Tutorials for 2026

The first Wednesday of each month from Feb 4 (Feb-Nov) at 5:50pm

Cost $5


February 4: Review all Opening bids and responses – what suit to bid first!

March 4: Opener rebids to show either a minimum, invitational or game going hand

April 8: 1NT Opener – switch your mind over to different responses!

May 6: Card play techniques used in NT contracts

June 3: Trump Contracts  – when to draw trumps or ruff in dummy

July 1: Doubles – the most underused bid for Juniors, takeout or penalty?

August 5: Leads, Signals and Discards – start your partnership understandings

September 2: Defence – which card to play?

October 7: Slam Bidding – what to look for and how to ask!

November 4: Bridge is all about counting - what to think about when you are declarer/defender.

Seminars for 2026

For Intermediate/Juniors:

.

Seminar 1: Sunday March 29

Topic: 'TBC'

Tutor: TBC

.

Seminar 2: Sunday September 27 

Topic: ‘TBC'

Tutor: TBC


For more advanced players:

.

Seminar 1: Sunday March 15

Topic: 'Use Your Powers of Deduction' 

Tutor: Shirley Newton

.

Seminar 2: Sunday June 14 

Topic: 'Pre-empts' 

Tutor: Max Morrison

.

Seminar 3: Sunday August 16

Topic: 'TBC'

Tutor: TBC

.

Seminar 4: Sunday October 4

Topic: 'TBC'

Tutor: TBC

.

All seminars start at 10am and cost $15.

Bridge Articles and Quizzes

Play of the Hand – No Trumps, Jenny Wilkinson 

I.Q. Quiz on Third Hand Play, Gary Brown

Third Hand Play – Notes & Quiz, Gary Brown

Beginner’s Lessons Enrolment Form

WELCOME to the Christchurch Bridge Club's beginners' classes. We hope you will enjoy learning to play bridge here.

DURATION: 12 sessions 
COST: $20

  • Schedule

    The FORMAT of each lesson will be:

    1 hour Teaching time.

    1.5 hour Bridge playing session based on set hands, covering aspects of the evening's topic. 

    A supper break will be taken at or around 9.00pm.

  • Summary Sheets

    Summary Sheets of all the lessons and quizzes will be handed out to each person at the first session.

  • Homework

    As the course progresses we recommend two things:

    1. Take a few minutes each week to read through your lesson notes from previous weeks. Consolidation is valuable.
    2. Try to get a group of four people together for an hour or two for a practice session. The more you play the easier it is to learn.
If you have any questions, please ask anything you want to know at any stage. We are only too pleased to help.

2026 Enrolment Form

Enrolment Form