Fall 2009 Bridge Class Schedule

Fall 2009 Class Schedule

At many of our teaching sites, we historically ran an eight week course. At many of these sites we now have instead TWO six-week courses with a one-week break between each session. So note that your site might have a class starting in September, October or November - many choices!! Prices have been changed to reflect the difference in 6-week and 8-week courses. Make sure your checks are for the correct amount. Tuitions should be submitted starting in August.

We have cancelled a class during the week of Thanksgiving (November).

New Tuition Procedures: In preparing our materials, it is important for us to know what size each class will be. If you pre-register in August, your tuition fee will be less than if you register as a walk-in at the first class. Hopefully, this will help us to be better organized.

Week by Week List of Topics at all Sites!

A few of you wanted a list of weekly topics for each class. It will take us about a week to get this done and should be available by August 12th. The document will be in a .pdf format, which you can print out yourself. Click on the link directly below to open the document! (This is the new version as of October 15, 2009.)

Week by Week Topic Listing

Schedule for Fall Semester - September 2009

New Courses Starting Soon in Late October

Tuition Payments Due Soon

You may start sending in your tuition fees now. If the class you select instructs you to send your registration to Leslie, please make sure you write on the memo line of your check which class you are registering for (start date, time and name of class) along with your telephone number in case of any questions. Write me a short note if you are taking more than one class.

If you prefer to pay as a "drop in" (e.g., attending only four classes) the fee per class is slightly higher ($30 per attendance). Students paying the full tuition fee get free makeups of anything they missed and a cheaper rate per class.

All UMC, WCCC and Somerset classes, please send tuition directly to: Leslie Shafer, 331 Market Street East, #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

For all other locations (JCC, Sumner, Chevy Chase Club or Columbia Country Club) you must register directly with those sites.

Beginner Level:

Beginner Bridge Part 1. Two Locations! Tell your friends!! For absolute beginners or those who haven’t played in many years and want to start over. Covers point count evaluation, basic play techniques and opening bids and responses for basic bidding.

Location #1: Tuesday mornings 10AM - 12:30PM UMC*. Taught by Leslie Shafer. Six-week class starts September 15 and ends October 20. Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Location #2: Thursday evenings 7-9 PM at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road in Rockville, MD. (Executive Blvd & Montrose.) Taught by Charlie Williams. Six-week class starts September 10 and ends October 15. For tuition rates or to register with JCC directly contact Barbara Winnik bwinnik@jccgw.org or call 301-348-3778.

Starts Late October - register now!! Beginner Bridge Part 2. Two Locations! Basic bidding and responses are reviewed as well as an introduction to a few new bids (takeout doubles, preempts, overcalls and the strong 2C opening bids). This is also a great class for those who played years ago and want to get back into bridge and modernize their skills.

Location #1: Tuesday mornings 10AM - Noon at UMC*. Taught by Leslie Shafer. Six-week class starts November 3 and ends December 15 (no class November 24). Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Location #2: Thursday evenings 7-9 PM at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road in Rockville, MD. (Executive Blvd & Montrose.) Taught by Charlie Williams. Six-week class starts October 29 and ends December 10 (no class November 26). For tuition rates or to register with JCC directly contact Barbara Winnik bwinnik@jccgw.org or call 301-348-3778.

Intermediate Level

Avoiding Common Bridge Mistakes, Part 1. Most of my students have trouble coping with competitive situations. Learn the ins and outs of keeping the opponents off balance and partner in the loop! Topics include: The Weak Freak; Attitude Signals; Signaling when Discarding; and The Cuebid as a Strong Raise of an Overcall. Monday evenings 7:30 - 9:30 PM at the Women's Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. Six-week class starts September 14 and ends October 26 (No class October 12). Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Starts Late October - register now!! Avoiding Common Bridge Mistakes, Part 2. You do not have to have taken Part 1 to enjoy this class. Each chapter stands on its own. Most of my students have trouble coping with competitive situations. Learn the ins and outs of keeping the opponents off balance and partner in the loop! Topics include: The Law of Total Tricks; Sacrifices; Special Responses to a Takeout Double; and Long Suit Establishment. Monday evenings 7:30 - 9:30 PM at the Women's Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. Six-week class starts November 2 and ends December 14 (no class November 23). Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Introduction to Defense (Signaling), Part 1. Taught by Charlie Williams. Learn how to signal to your partner about what's in your hand. Partner will start playing like a genius after this class (and that should make you very happy). Focus is on Attitude Signals, Opening Leads and more. Tuesday mornings 10 AM - Noon at the Women's Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. Six-week class starts September 15 and ends October 20. Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Starts Late October - register now!! Introduction to Defense (Signaling), Part 2. Taught by Charlie Williams. You do not have to have taken Part 1 to enjoy this class. Each chapter stands on its own. Learn how to signal to your partner about what's in your hand. Partner will start playing like a genius after this class (and that should make you very happy). Topics include: Fourth Best Leads and the Rule of Eleven; How to Look for a Ruff and How to Get It; and When to Lie to Partner. Tuesday mornings 10 AM - Noon at the Women's Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. Six-week class starts November 3 and ends December 15 (no class on November 24). Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Common Bidding Dilemmas. Here are some of the most common bidding problems that our students continue to get wrong. Let’s get scientific instead of bidding by the seat of our pants. Topics include: Reverses; Opener’s Rebids; When to Bid with a Weak Hand; and When to Pass with a Good Hand. Wednesday mornings 10 AM - Noon at UMC*. Six-week class starts September 9 and ends October 14. Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Starts Late October - register now!! Sidestepping Frequent Bridge Mistakes. Here are some of the most frequent play of the hand problems that our students continue to run into. We will show you the proper way to approach these common play situations. Topics include: The Rule of 7; High Card From the Short Side -- Not So Fast!; and Notrump -- How Will You Play This Hand? Wednesday mornings 10 AM - Noon at UMC*. Six-week class starts October 28 and ends December 9 (no class November 25). Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Advanced Level

Tools for Slam Bidding. Learn the methods needed to get to more good slams and stay out of bad slams. Focus is on accurately describing the strength of your hand. Topics include: Jumps by the Opener; Basic and Not So Basic Blackwood; Control Bidding and Reverses. Friday mornings 10 AM - Noon at UMC*. Six-week class starts September 11 and ends October 16. Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

Starts Late October - register now!! Slam Bidding in the 21^st Century. These aren’t your Grandparent’s slam methods! Topics include: Soloway Jump-Shifts; Roman Keycard Blackwood; and Gerber and Notrump Slams. Friday mornings 10 AM - Noon at UMC*. Six-week class starts October 30 and ends December 11 (no class on November 27). Registration fee is $125 in advance ($150 at the door) and can be sent directly to "Leslie Shafer" at 331 Market St. East #154, Gaithersburg, MD 20878.

*United Methodist Church's Activity Center, 9908 South Glen Road, Potomac, MD 20854. (Where Democracy Boulevard meets Falls Road.) Facing the building, please park on the left side of the parking lot.