Beginner Lessons

If you would like to learn how to play bridge, you can start from the very beginning by attending courses run by the club. In these courses, you can learn the basic elements of bidding and play. The courses are offered in February and July, according to demand.

The courses are 8 weeks long, and each session runs for 2 hours, from 10am to noon. Included in the cost (which is subsidised by the club) is a kit including a lesson notes booklet, a name badge, a bidding summary sheet and bridge etiquette brochure. In addition, you are offered complimentary membership of the club until 30 June or 31 December, so you can play in any session at member's prices. The cost of the entire course is $100.

When you have completed the course, if you wish you can join in supervised sessions. These run on Tuesday mornings. In these sessions, you can call on experienced players to give you advice when you don't know the best course of action. In this way you can improve your playing skills in a non-threatening environment.

You will find it does not take long to master the basic principles of bidding and play. These are relatively simple, but there are many things you can do to improve your chances of winning. In this lies the great fascination of the game. There is always an element of luck, but in the long run it is the players who have developed their knowledge of the game who will win more consistently.

Just ask any of the regular players. All will be able to recount great triumphs. Along the way, they will have experienced setbacks. It is practice that gives them the advantage.

To find out the exact dates when these courses commence you can look at the calendar on this web site. In addition, they will often be advertised on the home page. Of course, you can always contact the club by phone or email for further information. The date for the start of the second beginners' course in 2024 is Tuesday July 16.

Advanced Lessons

During the year, the club offers advanced lessons on various topics. These topics are selected to cover specific techniques in playing the game that you can use to improve your results. Each lesson is followed by practice hands so you can apply the techniques you have just discovered. The cost of a lesson is $15, pay on the day. It is not necessary for you to have a partner. However, it is helpful if you register for the lesson so the club is aware of the number coming. A link to the registration is given on the home page. The dates for lessons are listed in the calendar and the topics will be advised, usually on the home page, and will appear in "upcoming events" on the home page 45 days before the lesson.

2024 Lessons

Lesson date	Lesson topic
February 28	Two suited hands
March 27	Test your declarer play
April 24	Modern slam cue bidding
July 31	Test your defence
August 28	Lebensohl
September 25	Covering honours
October 30	Redoubles
November 27	Vacant spaces principle

Intermediate short courses

In addition to the single topic lessons, two intermediate short courses will be offered in 2024. The first runs over three Wednesdays, March 6, 13 and 20. The course topic is "Better Bidding". The second course also runs over three Wednesdays, 2, 9 and 16 October. The topic for this is to be advised.

About our teacher

Our teacher is Fiske Warren. Fiske is recognised as one of Australia's top bridge teachers and is an Honorary Teaching Fellow of the Australian Bridge Federation .

Since learning bridge from his grandmother as a child in England, he has been playing competitively for nearly 50 years and has been teaching the game for over 35 years.

He was an English Grand Master and enjoyed success at county and national level, frequently representing both London and Cambridgeshire before moving to Perth in 2008. He has since won many state events in WA including the WA Open Teams on three occasions and the Western Seniors Pairs twice. In 2016 he helped the WA Open team finish runners up at the Australian National Championships. Teaching, however, is his real passion and he runs courses at several clubs helping players of all standards from complete beginners to advanced. In addition he offers private tuition and one-to-one coaching.

Fiske is particularly interested in bidding theory and has a thorough knowledge of all the most popular bidding systems including Acol, Standard American and Precision. His teaching style is to try and keep everything clear and concise but above all he believes that his pupils should have fun as they learn!