Playing Lessons

Think about playing online with me in a playing lesson while we’re all stuck at home!  I also have twice a day, online supervised play during this period.  We play for an hour at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Central.  Call or email to find out about that.  Cost is just $2 per person, to me.  BBO is free.

I will play with you online in a 12 board tournament.  This includes a 15 minute phone call going over the convention card prior to the tournament followed by up to 20 minutes going over hands after the tournament.  Cost for this online play is $15 plus my entry fee.  Email, call, or text to set up a time and I’ll meet you online!

While Support Your Club games are on BBO, I will do playing lessons for my entry fee and $25 for these 18 board tournaments, with the same discussion before and after.

I am happy to provide a lesson by playing with you. For adults with fewer than 800 masterpoints, this means that I will meet with you for up to 1/2 hour before playing time to go over our convention card. I will play with you, noting the bidding sequence and leads as we play. I usually refrain from making too many comments during the actual playing time. I will then stay and go over some of the issues that occurred during the session, looking at hand records if available, for up to 1/2 hour. The cost for this playing lesson service is my entry fee and $35, or schedule a set of 3 lessons for just $90.

For adults with 800 masterpoints or more, I am happy to play with you for free if I can fit you into my schedule!

For high school age students and younger please see my scheduled rates on the Kids Bridge page.

ONLINE CLASSES

Due to Covid-19, classes have been moved to online 

Cost: $15 online for each two hour class per person. Class size is limited to 4 at a time. Classes are normally in the 4 to 6 p.m. Central Time frame but other schedules can be arranged.

YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER!
Just call (816-237-0519) or e-mail  to sign up.  Flexible scheduling for online classes.

Defensive Signaling and Card Play

Class 1:  Attitude and Count  online
Class 2: Suit Preference Signals  online 
Class 3: Opening Leads in Suit Contracts. online 
Class 4: Opening Leads at NT  online 
Class 5:  Discard Signals & Leading through Strength and to Weakness & Review online

Transition to Two Over One (2/1)

Class 1: Responding to an opening Major with Support
Class 2: Responding to an opening Minor, Responding to an Opening Major without support
Class 3: More forcing responses to show support for a Major: Jacoby 2NT and Splinters
Class 4: Putting it altogether – understand when to use what!

Reverses – what are they, when can you, should you use them?

Two hour class – online, flexible scheduling!

Overcalls:

Class 1: One level and two level overcalls: making them, advancing them
Class 2: Pre-emptive overcalls and advances
Class 3: How to keep competing after an overcall, including negative doubles
Class 4: Takeout doubles and advances, how to keep competing after interference caused by a takeout double

Lebensohl Class Series:

Class 1: Over natural 2 level bids
Class 2: Over 2 suited bids
Class 3: Over 3 level bids
Class 4: Responding to a double of a weak 2 and responding to a reverse


Kids Bridge

Oh, the people you’ll meet!

What is Kids Bridge?

I give the younger students a place to play bridge with others who are just starting out as well.  All the players have completed at least a beginning set of  lessons.  The purpose is to give them the opportunity to practice and to speed up their play.  It is free!  You just need to sign up ahead of time.  Parents are welcome to stay and watch!  Call 816-237-0519 or e-mail to sign up and get directions.  This is usually held in my home, unless the numbers signing up require a larger space.  We hope to continue this starting some time in 2021.  After building up speed, for those who are comfortable with the idea, we plan to go play at some of the Duplicate Bridge Clubs in the area.

Sign up for a Virtual Youth Bridge Camp!  I normally teach for a week at the residential youth bridge camp in Carlinville, Il.  This year due to Covid-19, it is has been cancelled, but we’re not letting that stop us!  In its place YBEO is offering a virtual camp.  The same teachers that taught there last year will offer classes and tournaments online this year.  Two hour afternoon classes Monday through Friday and two hour evening tournaments Monday through Thursday will be offered.  Cost is $50 per student. Get the letter with details here.

Summer Youth Lessons and Play to be held at the Bridge Studio at 95th and Metcalf.  Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4, from August 2 through Sept. 27, excluding Aug. 30 & Sept. 6. These lessons are for any youth, age 8 to 18. You don’t have to know any bridge at all to start!More  details here!  Get the Summer Flyer here.

I will play duplicate with you at a local club. The cost for this varies from free to $35, as follows: Kid prices: First 4 times I play with you, I’ll pay my own entry fee. Next 4 times I play with you, you’ll need to pay my entry fee. Playing with you time # 9 and above, you pay my entry fee and $35.

 

FALL 2019 HOMESCHOOL School Bridge Tournament

Playing hard in their end of class pupil game! Five Tables of kids ranging in age from 8 to 17!
And the winners are: Sophia & Clare with a 79.92% game, (1st Overall & 1st EW)! Miles & Joseph came in 2nd overall (1st. NS) with a 57% game.
3rd overall (2nd NS) with a 56.64% game, some of our youngest players Lucy & Charlie!
4th overall (2nd EW) with a 52.83% game, Isabella & Theresa

Book: Wanna Play Bridge The 2/1 Way?

My book is still available! It is entitled, “Wanna Play Bridge The 2/1 Way?”  (That is, Wanna Play Bridge the two over one way?)  Published by Master Point Press in November, 2017 and available for sale through them, on Amazon, or if you reside in the U.S. you can buy directly from me.  (See below.)

It is designed to be used in a variety of ways, but is basically a novice book, designed to teach the 2/1 bidding system to absolute beginners. The description on the back cover gives the best idea of how to use it.

Start early!
2/1: More Power, More Fun!

This book can be used as an absolute beginner book, teaching the 2/1 bridge bidding system from the start. Use just Chapters 1-5 to teach children as young as 6! They can learn how to play before they are ready to learn how to bid. Older than 9, kids can move, right along with adults, into learning the bidding system. It can also be used by a novice player who has the mechanics down but still needs help with bidding structure and playing tips as well as scoring. Those people can probably start with Chapter 6. If you already play a good game of Standard American but want to switch to 2/1 then you should probably start at Chapter 11. If you already know 2/1 but don’t know a couple of other conventions needed when responding to an opening bid of a major suit, then perhaps you just need Chapters 14 and 15. There are dozens of deals for practicing both bidding and play. Use the book the way that suits you best!

You can buy it directly from me at a slight discount or you can buy directly from MPP.  You can also find it on Amazon.

My new book, “Wanna Play Bridge The 2/1 Way?” is now available for sale!
It retails from Master Point Press for US $19.95.
If you buy it directly from me, via the link below.  I’ll add a WannaPlay Bridge T-shirt, pen , or key chain to your order while supplies last!
I can sell it to you for $19 if shipped within the U.S.
This includes any sales tax and shipping and handling.

Carriage Club Duplicate

Tuesdays again in 2020 at 5 p.m. at the Carriage Club. If you would like to play contact Kathy. Cost is $8.  This is a shorter game; we are usually done by 7:15.

Dates for 2020:

June 2 & 16, July 28, Aug. 11 & 25, Sept. 15 & 29,

Oct. 13 & 27, Nov. 10

Call Kathy at 816-237-0519 or email her to sign up.

This is an invitational club with limited space.  You have to be approved to come before coming!

Carriage Club Results:

Nov. 19 Game Results

Nov. 5 Game Results Corrected

Oct. 22 Game Results

 

 

 

 

2019 Scholarship Fundraiser

The 9th Annual Pizza Shoppe Fundraiser was held on Tuesday June 18, 2019.   10% of your purchase price was donated to scholarship funds held with Truman Heartland Community Foundation.  The first fund is the Eugene J. Rolfe Memorial Scholarship Fund, providing $1000 renewable scholarships to Engineering students.  The next fund is the Rolfe Bridge Fund.  This fund provides $500 renewable scholarships to Kathy’s students who have at least 1 masterpoint upon graduating from high school and who continue to add to the masterpoint holding while in college. The Bridge Fund also provides scholarships to students winning at the local Unit 131 Spring Tournament when a student section is offered.You can read about these scholarships on this website or read and apply for them via the Truman Heartland Community Foundation.  We’ve given away over $50,000 in scholarships and bridge camp funding so far!

Thank you to my supporters!  We had a great time this year! Sorry I forgot to take your picture Dave!

 

Bridge Competition Scholarship

Normally Unit 131 holds a student competition at the Spring Sectional Tournament.  (Both the spring and summer sectionals have been canceled due to Covid-19, perhaps we can work this into the August 28-30, 2020 Sectional.) The students will play in their own section if there are at least 3 tables. If at least 10 students don’t participate, those attending will play in the 0-299 section with the adults. This is for students age 18 and younger with less than 20 masterpoints. Winners will be awarded masterpoints and the Unit provides a trophy to the top student winners as well. In addition, Kathy Rolfe is providing a $50 scholarship to the top winners residing within Unit 131 through the Rolfe Bridge Fund administered through the Truman Heartland Community Foundation. The cost of play will be $1 to play.  Contact Kathy via e-mail  or call 816-237-0519 to let her know you plan on playing.

The 2019 Spring Tournament hosted 3 tables for the competition bridge scholarship on June 1.  Finishing in first place were Peter Caughron and his grandmother Nancy Caughron (playing to complete the 3 tables) with a 60% game, picking up .92 Silver masterpoints and winning Peter a $50 scholarship when he graduates from high school next year.  In second place were Patrick and Michael Caughron with a 57.5 % game picking up .69 masterpoints and $50 each in scholarship money to be used this fall at their college.

Supervised Play

Wednesday Wanna Play:
Wednesday 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 12:30 to 3 p.m. in my home in the Greenwood, MO area.  Next Wednesday Wanna Play:  June 3, 2020
Cost: $5 per person with light snacks provided.  There will be plexiglass dividers on the tables, so once seated you should not feel the need to wear a mask.

You must register ahead of time.  I cancel by late Tuesday evening via email communication with fewer than 3 people signed up.  Call Kathy at 816-237-0519 or email her to sign up and get directions if you need them.

Monday Minglers

We play from noon to 2:30 at my home with beverages and snacks provided.  Cost is $5.   You must sign up ahead of time.  I cancel by Sunday evening if not enough have signed up.  For Now, Monday Minglers is Cancelled through June.  Online Supervised Play instead!  

I have added an online supervised play for groups of just 4 which will continue through at least the summer.  We play for one hour on BBO at 11:15 a.m. Central and 2:15 p.m. Central, Monday through Friday.  Starting In June the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month are reverting back to supervised play in my home (SEE ABOVE), so online supervised play will not be available on those Wednesdays.  Cost is just $2 to me, the play on BBO is free.    To sign up, call or email me with your BBO user name and your phone number.  I call you a few minutes before playing time and add you to a conference call.  You then log in and BBO will put you at my table.  The conference call is so we can talk over the bidding and play, much easier that a lot of typing or hoping voice through BBO works on whatever device you are using.  You pay me via Paypal or a check.  We can work out those details when you sign up.