We have taught online bridge lessons (in BBO) over the past few years. We definitely prefer online bridge lessons to classroom ones, and we say so where ever we can. We often receive messages asking: how does it work? Is it different to taking classes? What is the best tool to use?
So here is a basic rundown of what online bridge lessons entail, and why they are more convenient and cost-effective than learning in a traditional classroom environment.
Why learn Bridge online?
There are many reasons you might want to learn bridge or improve your bridge: to prepare for an upcoming tournament, to communicate better with your partner, for professional reasons, or out of pure enjoyment.
But why learn bridge online instead of taking classes the traditional way?
- You want to focus in a certain aspect of the game
- You can’t find a group classes nearby
- Your schedule makes it difficult to attend regular classes
- You want one-on-one attention
- You’re on a budget
- You don’t want to spend time travelling to and from classes
- You want to have lessons in the comfort of your own home
- Need a partner to play certain BBO’s events…The ACBL’s events for example.
- You want to do better in the BBO events you play
- etc..etc..etc
If any or all of these apply to you, then you should definitely consider online bridge lessons. They are convenient, personal, cost-effective and time-efficient. And did I mention comfortable? You literally don’t even need to leave your sofa.
If you want want to brush up on your Bridge while eating home-made carbonara pasta on the couch and sipping a glass of red, then it’s possible!
How do online lessons compare to free resources?
There are many free apps and online tools available to learn bridge, many of which I use or have tried in the past.
I would recommend using free resources in conjunction with lessons so that you can progress faster.
Online bridge lessons take things a step further. They allow you to converse with a bridge expert and to receive personal, one-on-one feedback, something which an app cannot provide.
An app may correct your mistakes but it cannot offer you a detailed explanation of why you made the mistake, and how you can improve. Bridge can be highly complex, and sometimes only an expert can help you to understand why you must use a particular structure to communicate what you are trying to say or…
Lessons also give you accountability; you have to follow through. With an app or game, you can stop at any moment, but a bridge expert will follow up on your progress, give you tasks to complete and will test your game each time to see how you have improved.
What does a typical lesson look like?
Having an online bridge lesson involves Skype chat with a bridge expert. You can chose between, playing an event and a postmortem, or a table to play hands and a postmortem, or prepared hands with a certain aspect of the game or…
Think of an online bridge lesson as a friendly discussion mixed with fun interactive activities and a postmortem. It can be as laidback or serious as you like.
A typical lesson runs for 60-90 minutes. This is the perfect amount of time to get something productive done, with room left to finalise practical issues or allow for someone running a little late.
The lessons usually begin with a casual discussion. What comes next …you choose. The bridge expert will tailor the lessons to suit your needs and interests.
