This site and all of my bridge services are carried out through my company Rolfe Bridge Services LLC.
I learned how to play bridge at the age of 9, while watching my mother teach bridge to adults and filling in when someone didn’t come to the bridge class. I’ve grown to love the game, playing it frequently (over the past 5 decades plus). I’ve played mostly party bridge, but started playing duplicate bridge in 2002. I love it all! I felt like it was time to pass on the love of this game to the next generation. In November 2001 I became an ACBL (American Contract Bridge League) Accredited Teacher. I taught bridge to 4th through 6th graders in the Lee’s Summit School District Gifted and Talented Program (ASPIRE) from 2002 to 2011. I also taught in the Hickman Mills School District, the Blue Valley School District, at a Catholic School, and to homeschoolers. Several of my students placed in the ACBL Instant Matchpoint Competition held in the spring through 2006. Since that competition was discontinued, we have held our own student sectional tournament in conjunction with the Kansas City Unit 131 Spring Sectional. Trophies and scholarship money are available to the winners. Check out the Scholarship link. I frequently teach at the week long youth residential bridge camp in Carlinville, IL in the summer. That in turn led to starting my own high school age bridge camp in 2015. Unfortunately that camp has not continued in years since then due to low enrollment. Interested in getting bridge classes into your school – during classes or after-school programs? If you are in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, I’d be glad to help if we can work out a convenient schedule, call 816-237-0519 or e-mail me. ACBL provides the textbooks and a book bag to each child as well as paying me a small stipend, so the class is free to the school. If you are outside my area contact ACBL to see if they can find someone close to you to provide the service.
What I’ve found is not only young people who want to play this game of Bridge but also adults who either want to learn how to play or want to get better. I have begun offering classes to meet those needs as well. I am now an ACBL accredited teacher, ACBL Best Practices teacher, ACBL certified online teacher, an ACBL Club Director, ABTA Master Teacher, LBIAD accredited teacher, a Better Bridge accredited teacher, and a Gold Life Master!
I also direct games for clubs in the Kansas City area. Join me at the The Indian Hills Country Club or in the Mo-Kan Friendly Friday Game. I also run my own supervised play games in my home monthly on Wednesdays with Wednesday Wanna Plays. If you need a director, give me a call!
For my group classes, I teach from my own book, “Wanna Play Bridge The 2/1 Way?”; the Audrey Grant Better Bridge Series; from some of Barbara Seagram’s books; or from Patty Tucker’s Learn Bridge in a Day material. Check out the classes offered and details as to cost and how to sign up. A lot of online classes are being offered! Just click on Classes in the drop down Category menu to the left.
I was the Business Manager for ABTA (American Bridge Teachers Association) from August 2010 to December 2019. I have served on the Board of Directors for Unit 131 from 2006 to 2012, in several positions many of them concurrently – Education Chair, Declarer Editor, GNT/NAP/Bragging Rights Coordinator, Vice-President, President, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President. I was back as Declarer Editor for a few months in 2014. I am also a teacher trainer for the ACBL.
As of November, 2017 I have authored a bridge book! The book is entitled, “Wanna Play Bridge The 2/1 Way?” It is designed as an absolute beginner book, but can be used in a variety of ways beyond that. It does not teach competitive bidding.