ABTA's Motto: "To help those who teach bridge to do it better -
more effectively - more knowledgeably - more professionally."

WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN BRIDGE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION

LINKS FOR BRIDGE TEACHERS

The ABTA has created this page as an aid to all bridge teachers, whether or not they are members of our association. If you are not a member, we invite you to explore our website.

For a sample copy of the Quarterly publication received by all ABTA members click below.

http://www.abtahome.com/Pix/ABTA_Spring_2005_Quarterly_Final.pdf

Explore our website at http://www.ABTAhome.com/

To join ABTA click below.

http://www.abtahome.com/ABTA%202006%20New%20Member%20application.pdf

If you want to suggest an addition or find a link that is not working properly, please contact our LINK CHAIRMAN. ojab@telus.net

TEACHING MATERIALS – Free Lesson Downloads

Go to http://www.acbl.org/teachers/materials.html , the ACBL’s webpage to download PDF files of teacher manuals for the following ACBL courses as well as other material for teachers:

· All revised 21^st Century ACBL courses – Bidding, Play and Defense (originally by Audrey

Grant; revised by Betty Starzec)

· Modern Notrump Bidding Play Course created by Pat Harrington

· Major Suit Raises I and II Play Courses created by Pat Harrington

Student texts and E-Z Deal cards for theses materials are available from Baron Barclay: https://www4.mailordercentral.com/baronbarclay/departments.asp?dept=232

Five mini lessons from Easybridge! Program Director Marti Ronemus:

http://www.acbl.org/teachers/minilessons.html

Mini-Lessons from Celebrity Speakers at ACBL National tournaments:

http://www.acbl.org/teachers/celebritylessons.html

BRIDGE FOR YOUTH

Donna Compton has arranged material designed to introduce bridge to the target group of ages 4-7. http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/teachers/ComptonLessonsPreK.pdf

Donna also has created a manual for teaching bridge to a target group of children aged 8-10. http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/teachers/ComptonLessonsFinal.pdf

The School Bridge Lesson Series Teacher Manual for ages 11-13 (and adaptable for other age groups) developed by world champion Kitty Cooper: http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/teachers/ABSmanual.pdf

PLAY MINI BRIDGE

Mini Bridge is bridge without the bidding. It’s a great way for your students to practice their play. A free Mini Bridge program is available from Blue Chip Bridge in the United Kingdom, where Mini Bridge has been popularized in the school system.

http://www.bluechipbridge.co.uk/MiniBridge.htm

DESCRIPTIONS OF CONVENTIONS

Conventional Wisdom - a series of articles on completing the convention card published in The Bridge Bulletin. http://www.acbl.org/play/conventionwisdom.html

Bridge Tool kit - common conventions as discussed in a series of articles from The Bridge Bulletin. http://www.acbl.org/play/commonlyUsedconventions.html

Audrey Grant's Better Bridge website has useful information for teachers. Of particular interest are the following two series of articles by David Lindop at:

http://www.betterbridge.com/articles/index.html

WHAT'S STANDARD? This article discusses what is meant by "standard" in reference to modern bidding methods following the approach in Audrey Grant's new series on bridge basics, Bridge Basics I and Bridge Basics II. There are currently 22 articles covering topics that range from Opening the Bidding all the way to Slam Bidding and Fourth Suit Forcing. (presented in complimentary PDF form for teachers and students everywhere.)

FILLING OUT THE CONVENTION CARD - When you and your partner sit down to play in a club or tournament game, you're expected to fill out a convention card listing all the bidding and defensive carding agreements of the partnership. In this article, Lindop walks you through this process. (in complimentary PDF form for teachers and students everywhere.)

CONVENTION CARDS

Blank Convention Card: http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/play/newss1131.pdf

Blank "Fat Free" card: http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/play/FatFree.pdf

Blank SAYC card (Standard American Yellow Card):

http://web2.acbl.org/documentlibrary/play/SP3%20(bk)%20single%20pages.pdf

ARTICLES AND INFORMATION

The Fifth Chair Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to fostering bridge education on the internet and attracting new bridge players. Check out their Bridge School articles and interactive quizzes as well as more advanced articles in the Archives section. http://www.fifthchair.org/school/

Get expert advice from Jerry Helms on a variety of topics from the popular "Ask Jerry" columns appearing in The Bridge Bulletin and Play Bridge magazines.

http://www.jerryhelms.com/Ask_Jerry.htm

Explore expert writer and teacher Phillip Alder's website. Be sure to click on the Bridge Columns icon where teachers will find two years' worth of Alder's newspaper columns - bridge columns that are geared toward the average player, not the expert. You're sure to find some great lesson deals to add to your collection. http://www.phillipalderbridge.com/

Eddie Kantar offers a large selection of articles, bridge problems, quizzes, lesson deals and tips for on this website. http://www.kantarbridge.com/learn.htm

Kitty Cooper covers Mini Bridge materials, school program lesson plans and materials. As well there are some hands for the bridge player.

http://www.kittycooper.com/Bridge/modules.php?name=Downloads

Karen Walker has an excellent site for students of varying abilities. Peruse topics, which cover the different areas of student needs. Teachers will also appreciate the inclusion of her articles posted in The Bridge Bulletin. http://www.prairienet.org/

A host of bridge articles by Larry Cohen. Look for newsletter archives and bid'em ups at:

http://www.larryco.com/localarticles.htm

Bridge Clues – an interactive website with daily hands for various levels of bridge players at: http://www.bridgeclues.com/

The ACBL website provides a great deal of information for bridge teachers including: accredited teacher newsletters, talks from celebrity speakers at tournaments, a Handbook for Bridge Teachers, and information on continuing education and accreditation programs.

http://www.acbl.org/teachers/index.html

Also from ACBL download Learn to Play Bridge - lesson software created by Fred Gitelman.

http://web3.acbl.org/internet/websiteForms.nsf/ltpbForm?OpenForm

AUDIOCAST INTERVIEWS WITH BRIDGE EXPERTS

Website owner, Michael Nistler, interviews experts including teachers Eddie Kantar and Gerry Fox. Listen or download mp3 files at: http://www.bridgehands.com