February 1,2012: As he has done each spring semester during the last three years of the Reno Youth Bridge Middle School bridge teaching program, Bud Brewer, a Reno Youth Bridge Director and experienced duplicate bridge player, will offer the students personal instruction at a private “Teaching Table” on Bridge Base Online each Saturday morning beginning February 4th at 10:00 AM and lasting until 12:00 Noon. Students may join the table to play or to just watch and listen.
In either case a student may stay for the entire two hours or leave whenever they have other things that need to be done. Three students may sit at the table with Bud and bid their hands as they compete for the contract. If anyone of them becomes declarer, they will play the hands trying to make the contract. The other two players (Sometime Bud uses robots) will defend against the Declarer. During the play, if a serious error is made, Bud will undo the play and suggest that the declarer select another line of play in order to make their contract or if defending, Bud will ask them to think about another line of defense to cause the declarer to have under tricks. If any student just wants to kibitz the play and hear what comments Bud has to make about the bidding or the play of others, they may do that for any length of time during the lessons. If you are able to get online this coming Saturday morning, February 4th at 10:00AM, come see how it works. The easiest way to join the table is to make Bud a “friend”. His User ID is “Brew775″. If you add his ID to your friend’s list, his user ID will show up in purple on the “Who’s online list” If you don’t see it at first, click on the tab for who’s on line and the list will be shown. Merely click on his user ID and when his profile drops down select “Join Table” and you will be checked in. You will most assuredly learn something and it will make you a better player. In addition to having a little fun with one on one learning, each Reno Youth Bridge member at the table or kibitzing will receive 5 RYBAP points for each Saturday that they participate in the Saturday morning Teacher Table. Students should check with their parents to obtain permission to use their computer and to be on line for up to the two hours of the class.
As Reno Youth Bridge Students have been advised, the operators of BBO are very strict about the language players or kibitzers use while on the site. Chat is encouraged if it is modestly long and pertinent to what is going on at the table. In other words, private third party conversations should be held off line. When you start to play and join an open table it is common courtesy to type “May I join? If you have to leave a table on which you are playing, you should type “Thank you, I have to leave” Never leave in the middle of a hand except when you are the dummy. In that case, your departure doesn’t affect the completion of play of the hand. Always treat your partner with respect. They want to win too. The best way to learn and get comfortable with table protocol is to come watch for a while.
Reno Youth Bridge, a 501(c)(3) non profit Nevada Corporation, is funded by the generous contributions from individuals, families and charitable foundations here in the Reno Community. None of the RYB Directors or Officers receive compensation for their services. WCSD Certified teachers at each of the participating schools do receive a stipend for their volunteer efforts to teach the game of Bridge to WCSD Middle School Students. If you would like to help us fund our program we have provided the convenience of Pay Pal Credit card services. Just click on the Donate Button on any page or call Bud Brewer at 775-849-4113. Thank You!
