Learn + Develop
Bridge Lessons
WABC offers the most comprehensive in-house teaching program of any bridge club in Australia. Taught by Andy Hung, a regular Australian Open Team representative, the courses are taught using the Standard American system and are designed for complete beginners right through to advanced players.
Most courses are taught in six-lesson blocks (held over consecutive weeks). If you cannot commit to all six, you are welcome to stop after half way, and resume it at a later term.
The cost of one lesson is $25, payable at the first lesson by cash, cheque, electronic transfer or card. If you pay for all six lessons upfront, you will pay $135 (discount of $15).
Courses commence at the start of each quarter:
Term 1: Late January / early February
Term 2: Late April / early May
Term 3: Late July
Term 4: Mid-October
For the current lesson timetable, scroll down (or click here). You can also view the General Flyer here.
“Many games provide fun, but Bridge grips you. It exercises your mind. Your mind can rust, you know, but Bridge prevents the rust from forming.”
– Omar Sharif
Current Lesson timetable for term 2 2024
Here is an overview of the lessons being run at the moment. To register for any of these, please get in touch with Andy. You can also view the General Flyer for 2024 Term 2 here.
(Note: There will be a 1-week break on May 6th.)
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1. Basic Beginners
Term 2, 2024 (2 time slots):
Monday evenings 7:15pm - 9:15pm, or Thursday mornings 10:00am – 12:00 noon
Lessons 1-6: Starting 15-Apr (Monday) or 18-Apr (Thursday) -
2. Advanced Beginners
Wednesday mornings 9:30am-11:30am
Lessons 1-6: Starting 17-Apr-2024. -
3. Rookies
Monday Evenings 6:45pm – 8:45pm
Lessons 1-6: Starting 15-Apr-2024. -
4. Rookies Improve Declarer Play
Tuesday mornings 9:30am-11:30am.
Lessons 1-6: Starting 16-Apr-2024. -
Training and ‘Mini Supervised’ for Rookies
Thursday Mornings 9:15am – 11:45am
Weekly on Thursday mornings - no partner required, and no booking needed (no need to commit to the whole time duration)
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SLAM BIDDING (For Intermediate and Advancing Players)
Tuesday mornings 10:00am - 12 noon
Lessons 1-6: Starting 16-Apr-2024.
“Bridge is such a sensational game that I wouldn’t mind being in jail if I had three cellmates who were decent players and who were willing to keep the game going 24 hours a day.”
– Warren Buffet
Bridge Course Overview
Andy teaches four foundation courses and recommends that the beginner complete the lessons in the following order as your progress on your bridge journey: Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Rookies and Advanced Rookies. Lessons for more advanced players, from improvers to advanced are available for you to further develop your knowledge and skills.
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1. Basic Beginners
Suitable for players who don’t know one card from another, as well as those who have played before but are inexperienced or just a bit rusty. Logically structured, easy to follow. Includes a free extra practice session each week between lessons.
Who: Complete beginners
When: Every term
Duration: 2 x 3-lesson series -
2. Advanced Beginners
Suitable for players who have just completed the Beginners course (or have done so in the past), and would like to further their learning and improvement of the game. This course will introduce a deeper understanding of defence, as well as an introduction to bidding conventions! Logically structured, easy to follow.
Who: Basic Beginners Course graduates
When: Every term
Duration: 2 x 3-lesson series -
3. Rookies
Suitable for players who have completed the Advanced Beginners course (or have done so in the past), and would like to continue to further improve their learning and understanding of the game. This course will teach play techniques such as practice on counting, as well as introducing new and essential bidding conventions! Logically structured, easy to follow.
Who: Advanced Beginners Course graduates
When: Every term
Duration: 2 x 3-lesson series -
4. Card Play Essentials for Rookies
Suitable for players who have completed the Rookies course who want to continue to improve their game. The course will introduce new techniques (e.g. Signalling on Defence). The convention Blackwood will also be taught in one of the lessons! Overall it is a good course to further your bridge (with more practice), whilst learning something new in every lesson. Logically structured, easy to follow.
Who: Rookies Course graduates
When: Once or twice a year
Duration: 2 x 3-lesson series -
Training and ‘Mini Supervised’ for Rookies
The next step into learning how a ‘proper game’ works after the Advanced Beginners course (or straight after Beginners if you’re keen!), these sessions are designed to help you gain more experience and confidence by playing hands (with analysis afterwards) with a supervised format. This is particularly ideal before moving on to the regular Supervised Sessions as you learn a bit about the scoring, use of Bidding Boxes, and how to use the Bridgemate device, etc.
Who: Beginners, Advanced Beginners, Rookies
When: Weekly on Thursdays 9:15am-11:45am
Duration: On-going, but break during Xmas -
Card Play Essentials
The fundamentals of good card play technique are clearly explained, with plenty of practice hands. Covers the right way to tackle both no trump and suit contracts plus vital ways of winning extra tricks. Gain a clear understanding of how to approach each hand and play with greater confidence and purpose.
Who: Improvers + Intermediate players
When: Once a year
Duration: 2 x 3-lesson series -
Intermediate Bidding
This course lays down the essential foundations for more accurate bidding by recapping the basics then adding more detail and structure. It’s the ideal way to master the meanings of bids in Standard American. The set hands also feature a card play theme each lesson.
Who: Improvers + Intermediate players
When: Once or twice a year
Duration: 2 x 3-lesson series -
Deadly Defence
A more detailed look at what to lead as well as how to signal to your partner (legally!) plus much more. Do you know when to cover an honour with an honour? Find out!
Who: Improvers + Intermediate players
When: Once a year
Duration: 2 x 3-lesson series -
How to Win at Duplicate
Starts with a clear explanation of how Duplicate is scored, laying the foundations for understanding the best tactics in bidding, play and defence at Duplicate. Learn when and how to be more adventurous and turn those bottoms into top scores!
Who: Improvers + Intermediate players
When: Once a year (sometimes)
Duration: 4-week course -
Four Classic Conventions
Weak Twos, Jacoby 2NT response, Transfers over 1NT and Fourth Suit Forcing are all essential conventions in the modern game. Find out why and improve your game!
Who: Improvers + Intermediate players
When: Once a year (sometimes)
Duration: 4-week course -
Master Card Play + Defence
A hands-on course for experienced players. Play 12 guided set hands each week and expand your range of techniques. Make more contracts that are makeable and defeat those that are defeatable. Builds on the foundations of Card Play Essentials and Deadly Defence. Suitable for Intermediate to Advanced.
Who: Intermediate + advanced players
When: Once a year (sometime)
Duration: 4-week course -
Modern Competitive Bidding
Modern contested auctions are a minefield. Learn when it is right to compete vigorously and how to lay traps for the opponents, whilst avoiding those they set for you.
Who: Improvers + Intermediate players
When: Once a year
Duration: 2 x 3 lesson series -
Modern Slam Bidding
Learn how to recognise slam potential and become familiar with the modern slam tools to get you there: Key Card Blackwood, Cue Bidding and Splinter Bids. If you are missing too many slams come and find out why.
Who: Intermediate players
When: Once a year (sometimes)
Duration: 4-week course -
Expert Card Play
Techniques that will help you see through the backs of the cards. “Guesses” can become certainties when you analyse all the clues. An advanced course for experienced players only.
Who: Intermediate + Advanced players
When: Once a year (sometimes)
Duration: 4-week course
Meet Andy Hung
Andy first started playing bridge when he was 17 during his lunch breaks in high school! He soon joined the QLD Youth Program as well as the ABF Youth Club, and within a year or two he competed in the Australian National (Youth) Championships for QLD at a national level, and represented Australia in the Schools Team at an international level.
Andy later moved to Melbourne as he completed his Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering, but due to the competitiveness in this field, Andy had started to teach bridge in Brisbane from 2010.
In his bridge teaching career, Andy has taught many players at all levels ranging from absolute beginners, all the way up to national and international representatives. He is regarded as one of the most caring and understanding teachers, as he makes every effort to make sure all of his students understand the concepts that he’s teaching, no matter how simple or difficult it may be.
Andy’s teaching skills and experience were recently recognised by the Australian Bridge Federation in 2016 when he was made an ABF Honorary Teaching Fellow.
Andy has also been running successful Bridge Holidays (in and outside of Australia) since 2015. Popular destinations such as the Hunter Valley, Noosa, Margaret River and various destinations in Europe, Andy’s Bridge Holidays have a nice balance between the holiday aspect, and the bridge activities!
Besides teaching bridge, Andy was the editor of the Australian Youth Bridge Bulletin from 2012-2018, and is the main editor of the Gold Coast Congress Bulletin since 2019.
As a player, Andy has won several State and National titles, and he and his team has won the right to represent Australia in the World Championships for the past few years. Andy has been a regular Australian Open Team representative. He has started to compete in the US Nationals as a way to practice for the World Championships.
If you’d like to learn more about Andy, you can visit his bridge website at www.andyhungbridge.com
Contact Andy Hung
For more information, to register in a course or to be notified when the next suitable course will be run then contact Andy Hung on lessons@wabridgeclub.com.au or 0425 101 094 - use the contact form below.
