If you have not created your Teacher Profile (or updated recently) make sure you do that so prospective students can find you. Note: If you don’t yet have a recognized teaching certification, please complete the Teaching Experience Verification form so we can activate your Teacher Profile once submitted.
NEW COURSE MATERIALS! The ACBL Intro to Bridge Series
ACBL Intro to Bridge Series 1 and 2. If you opt to use this curriculum you can order the student materials below.
The ACBL School Bridge Program
The ACBL School Bridge Program is designed to help you bring the joy of bridge to youth. More than 4000 youngsters participate each year in schools throughout North America. The program is sponsored by the ACBL and includes teacher stipends and free textbooks. Bridge Classes and National Core Math Standards
The ACBL’s Lifelong Learning Program is designed to introduce the game of bridge to adults age 50 or older through continuing education programs offered through colleges or universities. Sponsored by the ACBL, this program includes teacher stipends, textbooks and other materials for your classes.
The American Contract Bridge League and ACBL Educational Foundation partner to help grow bridge on college campuses. Whether bridge is run as a student club or taught as a class, we help make it possible with funding, materials, and support.
Stipends to help offset program costs
Teaching materials and bridge supplies (cards, boards, bidding boxes, etc.)
A student can start and lead a bridge club on campus. ACBL can provide materials and a stipend to help support the club.
$350 stipend per semester (after a brief progress report is approved)
Bridge kit available as the program starts (cards, boards, bidding boxes, instructor materials, etc.)
Teach Bridge as a Class
Bridge can be taught by a professor/faculty member, student, or volunteer.
$350 stipend per class
Minimum of 8 students
At least 16 hours of bridge instruction (including play)
College Bridge Online (CBO)
Encourage your campus group to sign up for CBO – College Bridge Online.
Participants will have access to free daily college-only games on BBO, plus twice-monthly special tournaments awarding Masterpoints and prizes.
How You Can Help
ACBL district and unit members, alumni, teachers, and other bridge enthusiasts can support college bridge programs in a few simple ways:
Using a discovery-based learning approach in line with best practices for in-person classes, the ACBL Intro to Bridge Series consists of two 10-class series designed to equip students with a simple, starting framework for bidding and play.
Series 1
Bridge Basics – Play and Bidding
Classes are 2 hours with 35-40 minutes of teacher-led instruction and 80-85 minutes of student-centered activities including 30 minutes of play.
This course starts at the very beginning with there are 52 cards in a deck, introduces trick taking and trump. It begins with learning the goal of the game and how to play including simple play strategies and the basics of bidding based on American Standard 5-Card.
Class 1: Understanding the Basics Class 2: Improving Play Class 3: Counting Winners / Planning Line of Play Class 4: Taking Tricks with Trump Class 5: Opening the Bidding Class 6: Evaluating a Hand / Responding to 1-Level Minor Openings Class 7: Responding to 1-Level Major Openings / Responding to NT Class 8: Rebidding by Opener Class 9: Rebidding by Responder Class 10: Overcalling & Advancing
Series 2
Opening Leads, Beginning Conventions & Play
Classes are 2 hours with 35-40 minutes of teacher-led instruction and 80-85 minutes of student-centered activities culminating in a Pupil Game.
The second course starts with opening leads and covers some of the most common conventions all players should know including Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, Preempts, Doubles, and the Strong 2♣ Opening. The course wraps up with helping students build their convention card with everything they have learned, scoring, understanding what to expect at the table culminating in a duplicate teaching game.
Class 11: Understanding & Making Opening Leads Class 12: Responding to NT / Stayman Class 13: Responding to NT / Jacoby Transfers Class 14: Bidding & Responding to Weak Twos Class 15: Bidding & Responding to Negative Doubles Class 16: Bidding & Responding to Takeout Doubles Class 17: Bidding & Responding to Preempts / Vulnerability & Penalty Doubles Class 18: Bidding Strong 2♣/2♦ Waiting & Positive Responses Class 19: Putting it All Together Class 20: Playing Duplicate
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The ACBL Intro to Bridge curriculum materials include a Teacher Outline, Slide Deck and Student Manual. Most classes also include topical hands, which are included in the appendix of each Teacher Outline and provided as PBN files or PDF Table Mats. There are also Class Videos and Student Answer Keys and Class Hand Reviews.
You also have the option to offer free, web-based resources for your students to support the course.These include the answer keys, hand reviews, and viewable class videos. These resources can be used for student review or to make up a missed class.
Teachers who hold one of our recognized teaching certifications are eligible to use the program once they have completed the steps below. Teaching Certifications: ACBL Best Practices, ABTA Master Teacher, ACBL TAP, Better Bridge, EasyBridge, and LBIAD.
Members With a Teaching Certification
ACBL Members whose member profile includes a teaching certification are eligible to use the ACBL Intro to Bridge curriculum for in-person classes.
Please make sure your teacher profile is current and visible.
Create an account at the ACBL Resource Center (directions below)
Members without a Teacher Certification
Consider getting certified, you can find more information in the Certification section of this page.
In the interim, apply for a teaching designation by completing the Teaching Experience Survey, if verified you will receive an assigned teaching designation on your member profile and then be eligible.
Create an account at the ACBL Resource Center (directions below)
Note: If you are given an assigned teaching designation and have submitted your Usage Agreement, your ACBL Resource Center account will be activated – this may take up to a week. If we are unable to verify your teaching experience, you will receive an email with further information.
ACBL Resource Center
This is a separate site from the member site and requires a separate user account.
Go to the ACBL Resource Center (acbl.org/i2bresources)
Click on REGISTER in upper right corner
In ‘teacher’ field use your name
In ‘class start date’ provide date of your next class or an estimate
ACBL Resource CenterNote: TEACHER and STUDENT resources are added to your account manually once all steps are completed. This may take 3-5 business days.
School Bridge, Lifelong Learning & Collegiate Initiative Teachers
Teachers offering classes to primary and secondary school students, college students or lifelong learners and affiliated with an educational institution can order supplies through our Education Programs. Directions on accessing the teaching materials are provided after placing your first order.
Using a “hands-on” approach, the ACBL Bridge Series consists of a progression of five courses, each focusing on a different aspect of the game and bringing the students from absolute beginners through to the point where they can confidently play in any bridge game.
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Each course is designed for eight two-hour lessons. Depending on circumstances, the teacher can choose to shorten or lengthen both the number of lessons and the time per session (although it is never recommended to go beyond two hours in a single session). Each lesson is designed to be approximately 50% discussion and 50% play. In the later series, the emphasis swings even more toward play.
For each series, there is a student text that covers all of the concepts discussed in the lesson and provides additional examples. It also covers all of the activities (exercises and sample hands) discussed during the class so that the students can review them later.
For the teacher, there is a Teacher’s Manual for each series showing in detail how to present all of the material and what points should be emphasised during each activity. There is also a set of E-Z Deal cards for each series, which make it easy for the teacher, or the students, to deal out each of the lesson hands.
Click the course links below to download corresponding PDF textbooks for free. You can also purchase any of these materials at Baron Barclay Bridge Supply.
Since the basic approach to the learning process is to provide students with an opportunity to play and practice whenever possible, a series of supervised play sessions were created. The Play Courses will also provide a break between lesson series. Teachers may consider scheduling three or four lesson series per year, starting at the classic times: in the fall, after the kids go back to school; in January, after the holiday season; in the spring, just in time for summer; during the summer holidays. In the interim, supervised play sessions keep the level of interest up.
Each “Play” course has been fashioned as a four-week series with eight hands per session. There is nothing to prevent the teacher from running a longer or shorter series or even a continuous series in parallel with the lesson’s series. Each “Play” course comes with a deck of E-Z Deal cards and a booklet that analyses the hands and provides an opportunity for the students to score their results duplicate-style.
Play Course booklets and EZ Deal cards can be purchased through Baron Barclay.
New! Programs to Introduce Your Community to Bridge
ACBL Bridge Ambassador Program:Download a helpful packet to share with your club’s Bridge Ambassador, a volunteer eager to introduce your neighbors to bridge. The packet has information and resources for the club, the bridge ambassador and a possible teacher. Showcase the fun of trick-taking games!
Come Play Cards with Us/Come Play Spades with Us: Capitalize on your community’s interest in card games and funnel them into the world of bridge. Download full packet with customizable flier.
PickleBridge: Combine a pickleball clinic and a simple trick-taking game to take advantage of a popular trend while demonstrating the similarities of bridge. Both are made of two competing partnerships; one challenges you mentally, the other physically. Download full packet.
BridgeBattle™: an exciting fusion of the classic card games Bridge and War! This unique game blends the strategic depth of bridge with the fast-paced simplicity of war. So easy you can be playing in under a minute! And with over 635B possible hands, every game is a new adventure. Download BridgeBattle Flier.
Sapphire Program: Sapphires celebrate your first big steps in bridge—like your first lesson, your first BridgeWar battle, and more. Each sapphire is a badge of achievement, designed just for new players to mark progress for what’s ahead. Find out more.
ACBL Convention Card: Download a PDF file and print a blank card. You may also save the file to your computer and edit this card for your personal use.
ACBL Classic Convention Card: Download a PDF file and print a blank card. You may also save the file to your computer and edit this card for your personal use.
Basic 2 over 1 Convention Card: From Larry Cohen’s Conventional Wisdom Lite series featured in the ACBL Bridge Bulletin.
Download the completed card. To view the Conventional Wisdom Lite series, click here.
Offering an in-person, beginning bridge course? We help expand your advertising. You contact the leads.
Boost is a joint initiative of ACBL and the ACBL Educational Foundation designed to support a return to face-to-face bridge by running social media ad campaigns for eligible teachers to generate leads and ‘boost’ their enrollment. There is no cost to participate but Boost participants must commit to contact all leads provided, complete tracking reports on outcomes, sign up students as ACBL Guest Members and coordinate with a local in-person club to offer level-appropriate play opportunities. Note: Teachers cannot take advantage of both Boost and CAP for the same course.
Boost Program Details
Boost Program Details
This program generates prospective student leads for already scheduled courses. Boost will not fill a class. It is designed to augment your current marketing approaches and “boost” your enrollment. The leads are generated through Facebook and Instagram ads based on location. There are two types of campaigns: Individual Teacher and Multi-Teacher/Location. Teachers are required to follow up with all leads and report the outcomes, as well as sign up students as ACBL Guest Members; and coordinate with their local, in-person club to offer newcomer play opportunities to connect students to their local bridge community.
Boost will not fill a class. It is designed to augment your current marketing approaches and “boost” your enrollment.
Considerations for Participation
Location – market viability, no more than 1 campaign per market in the same time frame, and fair representation of all districts.
Club Connection – partnered with a local club to offer MP-earning opportunities at the right level for beginning students.
Outcome Reporting – timely completion of tracking and outcome reports (previous Boost participants).
Individual Campaign – proven track record of recruiting members and guest members.
Mutli-Teacher Campaign – number of teachers participating and their teaching experience.
Criteria for Eligible Courses
Level is newcomer or beginner
6+ classes with 9+ hours instruction; 2 courses can be linked to meet requirement (e.g., LBIAD + follow-on course) – cannot be supervised play
Course is not FREE (students must pay for the course)
Course is already on the calendar with a confirmed location, dates, and times; and being marketed outside of Boost.
Ad campaigns run for about 3 weeks, typically ending about 1 week before the course start date. So in order to process and setup campaigns, applications must be submitted a minimum of 6 weeks before the course start date to be considered.
The Cooperative Advertising Program (CAP) partially reimburses bridge teachers, club, units and districts for advertising expenses so long as they promote programs and lessons designed for bridge newcomers and/or to recruit ACBL members.
CAP will refund 50% of eligible advertising costs with a maximum amount of $500. Qualifying advertisements must be date-specific and use approved ACBL logos. Note: Teachers cannot take advantage of both Boost and CAP for the same course.
Tear sheets from newspaper or magazine, printed flier or brochure
Dated PAID invoice or receipt
Written request for CAP reimbursement that includes the Club #, Club name, district #, unit # and contact information
PLEASE NOTE: Ads, invoices and receipts showing a date of more than 60 days old when received in this office will not be accepted by the ACBL Accounting Department for reimbursement. Also, copies of cancelled checks or credit card statements are not acceptable. We require copies of actual dated receipts and/or detailed invoices. Members and clubs must be in good standing in the ACBL to be eligible for reimbursement.
Send the above items to:
marketing@acbl.org with Cooperative Advertising in subject line
Allow four to six weeks to receive your reimbursement from the date your request and all required materials are submitted.
NOTE: IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL ADS AND/OR COLLATERAL ARE SUBMITTED FOR PRE-APPROVAL TO ENSURE THEY MEET THE REIMBURSEMENT REQUIREMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
The advertisement must be for date-specific newcomer programs, beginner bridge lessons, social bridge recruitment events or ACBL membership recruitment.
All advertisements must contain the full CAP approved logo. No exceptions.
To qualify for reimbursement, you must also sign-up students/players for the ACBL’s free guest membership. Email addresses of students/players will be required on the CAP submission form for verification. You can generate a custom join link for your students and players prepopulated with your club and/or recruiter link, so that they can quickly sign up online. If any of your students use your custom link to join as guests, you will still be eligible for a recruiter bonus if they convert to full membership within 120 days.
Reimbursements are made on a per Date-Specific Ad Campaign basis. A “Date-Specific Ad Campaign” for purposes of this program is defined as follows:A planned program that uses an advertising message (or a combination of multiple advertisements, commercials, and related promotional materials and activities) that may or may not be communicated across multiple media channels (newspaper, radio, TV, etc.) and are designed to be used during the same period of time as part of a coordinated advertising plan to meet a specified objective.
The cost of a Date-Specific Ad Campaign is defined as being the total advertisement placement costs for all mediums used (Facebook, radio, newspaper, fliers, etc.) for a specifically dated set of beginning bridge lessons, or specifically dated newcomer program, social bridge recruitment event or a specifically dated ACBL membership recruitment drive. The maximum dollar amount you would be reimbursed is $500. Reimbursements will be in US Dollars.An example of ONE (1) Date-Specific Ad Campaign would be:Planned Program: Beginning Bridge Lessons
Period of time: May 1, 2025
Media Channels: Newspaper ads, Radio Spot, FliersExample of how the cost for the above Date-Specific Ad Campaign might be reimbursed:Cost of Newspaper ads: $500
Radio Spot: $500
Fliers: $200
Total Cost: $1,200
The above example would be considered one (1)Date-Specific Ad Campaign using multiple mediums. And the reimbursement would be calculated as follows:50% of $1,200 = $600
MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT = $500
Since 50% of the above Date-Specific Ad Campaign cost exceeds the $500 maximum reimbursement allowed, the reimbursement for the above Date-Specific Ad Campaign would be the maximum allowed of $500.
Scanned copies of actual ads, dated receipts and/or detailed paid invoices must be submitted WITHIN 60 days of the date the ad ran. Copies of cancelled checks or credit card statements are not acceptable. Members and clubs must be in good standing in the ACBL to receive reimbursement.
The ACBL staff reserves the right to judge eligibility for reimbursement and may, at their sole discretion, deny reimbursement for any and all submissions that they deem to be ineligible.
Eligible Media:
Newspapers
Magazines
Direct mail pieces (Excluding Postage)
Catalogs
Posters/fliers for public distribution
Billboards
Television
Radio
Online commercial websites
Targeted Facebook ads
Items NOT Eligible for Reimbursement
Ads placed in the Bridge Bulletin
Calendars
Tournament schedules, fliers or emails
Email campaigns such as Pianola or Constant Contact
Teacher, club, unit or district newsletters or emails
A Date-Specific Ad Campaign means that there must be a start date within the ad, lesson, social recruiting event or other announcement. (Example of start date can be – “Beginning May 2025”, “Beginning May 1-15, 2025”, “May – September 2025” or “Year of 2025”)
How to Submit Requests for Pre-Approval:
Submit proposed ad, flier, etc to be pre-approved via email to marketing@acbl.org with “Attention: CAP Approval”.
You will receive notification that your request has been approved or disapproved via email.
Allow five (5) business days for approval/disapproval notification.
Send a copy of the dated paid invoice(s) and/or receipt(s) along with the following to the ACBL Marketing Department:
The advertisement tear sheet(s) for newspaper ads or a photo of the entire page. Do not cut out the ad or make a copy of the ad. We require the entire actual page(s) from the newspaper, magazine or other media containing the ad. PDF versions of tear sheets may be submitted via email.
The actual brochure or flier that was printed.
A copy of the script for radio (from the station)and a DVD if for television.
A copy of the link or insertion order for online commercial websites.
Your Name, ACBL member, club, unit or district NUMBER and daytime phone number or email address where you may be contacted and to whom the reimbursement check should be made payable. Remember, the check that is made payable to a club, unit or district will only be mailed to the person who is profiled in the ACBL data base under that club, unit or district -no exceptions.
Digital Ad TemplatesWe are currently updating the branding on our Digital ad templates. If you would like to request an ad for publication, please email marketing@acbl.org.
Please use the primary logo if the logo can be at least 1½ inches wide and the logo seal for anything smaller than 1½ inches. To download a logo, just choose the file format you want (like JPG or PNG) and click the button. The image will open in a new tab. Right-click on it and select “Save image as…” then choose where you want to save it on your computer and click Save.
ACBL recruiters keep bridge thriving, and we want to show our appreciation. With our new Recruitment Incentives, we’ll award up to US$30 for each new member a registered recruiter brings to the ACBL!
Read More
Bigger bonuses paid more quickly
Under this reward initiative, recruiters receive a $10 USD bonus when a guest member converts to full ACBL membership*, plus another $10 when the member renews after the first year, and an additional $10 if they renew a second time. (A new three-year membership pays a one-time $30 USD bonus.)
Recruitment checks are issued quarterly if the recruiter’s balance is at least $50. Smaller amounts are paid at the end of the year. A minimum balance of $20 is required to receive payment.
* Incentives are not available for recruiting juniors (under 26).
How do I get credit as a recruiter when a member joins?
For proper credit, please ensure that the new member enters your information in the “Recruiter Section” in the New Member Application form online. To make this easier, we have developed a recruiter link generator to allow you to create shareable custom links that will prepopulate the join form with your recruiter information.
Who are our recruiters?
Teachers, club managers, and active club directors are automatically registered as recruiters. Other members who are actively involved in recruiting may be approved, on a case-by-case basis, to become an ACBL recruiter (apply at recruiter@acbl.org).
Clubs are awarded an upgraded club championship game for every 10 new members.
Questions or suggestions? Please contact us at recruiter@acbl.org.
Recruitment FAQ
1. What are the new ACBL Recruitment Incentives?
ACBL’s new recruitment incentives aim to reward recruiters more quickly and fairly and to pay additional bonuses for member retention. Recruiters receive an initial incentive when the member joins and successive payments (“bonus tail”) if the member renews for a second or third year. New memberships will be tallied, and a check will be sent to recruiters each quarter. Junior and temporary memberships are not eligible for these new recruitment incentives.
2. How much will I receive for sign-ups and renewals?
Bonuses vary with one-year and three-year memberships with a maximum payout of US$30 per member recruited. Recruiters receive US$10 when the new member joins for a year and will receive a “bonus tail” of US$10/year if the member renews for a second and third year. If the new member joins with a three-year membership, the recruiter will receive US$30 upfront (as a reference, the bonus for a three-year new member is about 25% of the dues received)
3. What is a bonus tail and how does it work?
The “bonus tail” aims to reward recruiters who are not just bringing in players, but also retaining them. After an initial US$10 award when the member first signs up, an additional US$10 will be paid to the recruiter when the member renews for a second year. If the member then renews for the third year, the recruiter will receive another US$10.
Because the maximum payout per each new member is US$30, three-year memberships have a different payment schedule. If the member initially joins with a three-year membership, US$30 is given, and there is no tail. If a member first joins with a one-year membership and then renews with a three-year membership, the recruiter receives US$10 for the first year and the remaining US$20 at renewal.
4. What is happening to the previous recruitment incentives?
The previous incentives will be gradually phased out as described below:
US$100 gift certificate to Baron Barclay Bridge Supply for every 25 new members recruited in a calendar year. This incentive will be available to all recruiters until they earn the next gift certificate or December 31, 2019, whichever is sooner.
US$500 bonus check for every 100 new members recruited. This incentive will be available to all recruiters until they earn the next bonus check or December 31, 2021, whichever comes first.
Upgraded club championship for every 10 new members. At present, there are no planned changes for this club recruitment incentive.
5. Who can be a recruiter?
Teachers, club managers, and active club directors are automatically registered as recruiters. Other members who are actively involved in recruiting may be approved, on a case-by-case basis, to become an ACBL recruiter (apply at recruiter@acbl.org).
Only active ACBL members (up-to-date with their membership dues/fees) are eligible to be ACBL recruiters.
Full-time ACBL employees are not eligible for recruitment incentives.
Currently, monetary recruitment incentives can only be paid to individuals. We are exploring the possibility of extending incentives to clubs in the future.
6. How do I become a recruiter?
The easiest way is to become a certified teacher, club manager or active club director.
Other members who are actively involved in recruiting may be approved, on a case-by-case basis, to be an ACBL recruiter (apply at recruiter@acbl.org).
7. How do I get credit as a recruiter when a member joins?
For proper credit, please ensure that the new member enters your information in the “Recruiter Section” in the New Member Application form (either online or printed). We are continuously improving our forms, in an effort to make it easier to locate a recruiter by name or related club.
8. What if someone I recruited doesn’t mention me on a New Member Application form?
Recruitment incentives will only be recognized through the New Member Application form (either online or printed). We are working on developing tools that will make it easier for recruiters to receive credit in the future.
9. How will I be paid and when?
Recruiters will be paid at least twice a year, via a mailed check. We are investigating other options, like electronic checks (direct deposit to your bank account), that may be implemented in the future.
Please note that ACBL is required to have a completed W-9 form on file (completed W-8BEN form for non-US residents), before we can pay the incentives. (these forms contain tax ID information, so we can report these payments to the Income Revenue Service). At present, recruitment incentives can only be paid to individuals. We are evaluating the possibility of paying out incentives directly to clubs.
10. Who will receive the recruitment incentive?
The recruiter attributed to in the New Member Application form will be paid. At this moment, clubs, units or districts can’t receive monetary recruitment incentives, only registered individuals.
11. Can a bonus be split by two recruiters?
No. There can only be one recruiter per joining member.
12. How can I see my recruitment activity?
You will receive a monthly statement by email showing your recruits and your payments. In the future, recruiters will be able to check transactions and balances in MyACBL (like in a bank account or credit card website).
13. How can I get further questions answered?
We want your feedback! Please send any questions or suggestions to recruiter@acbl.org. We’ll get back to you ASAP, likely the next working day.
This course focuses on introducing the student to the basic concepts of the game. There is an emphasis on modern bidding (opening bids, responses, rebids, overcalls, takeout doubles and stayman) but sufficient elements of play and defense are introduced to allow the students to start playing hands right away.
Bidding in the 21st Century Teacher Manual
The ACBL Bridge Series texts and teacher manuals have been updated to complement the Learn to Play Bridge I and II software programs. The texts and support materials, as well as the teacher manuals, are being sold by Baron Barclay Bridge Supply. However, ACBL has been given permission to post the teacher manuals at our website for free download. The lessons can be downloaded individually. Use the links below to access the new, updated teacher manual.
Updates to the Bidding in the 21st Century text. View
Updates for previous versions of Bidding in the 21st Century Teacher Manual. View
Play of the Hand in the 21st Century (The Diamond Series)
This series concentrates on the play of the hand (making a plan, promoting winners, finessing, trumping losers, etc.). The initial bidding concepts are reviewed and a few new concepts are introduced (Jacoby transfers and slam bidding).
Play of the Hand in the 21st Century Teacher Manual
The ACBL Bridge Series texts and teacher manuals have been updated to reflect modern bidding theory and to complement the Learn to Play Bridge I and II software programs. The texts and support materials, as well as the teacher manuals, are being sold by Baron Barclay Bridge Supply. However, the ACBL has been given permission to post the teacher manuals at our website for free download. The lessons can be downloaded individually. Use the links below to access the new, updated Play of the Hand in the 21st Century teacher manual:
Now the attention turns to the defenders. This series contains more detailed discussions of opening leads against suit and notrump contracts, second and third hand play, and defensive signals. The bidding and play concepts from the earlier series are reviewed and a few new ideas are added.
Defense in the 21st Century Teacher Manual
The ACBL Bridge Series texts and teacher manuals have been updated to reflect modern bidding theory and to complement the Learn to Play Bridge I and II software programs. The texts and support materials, as well as the teacher manuals, are being sold by Baron Barclay Bridge Supply. However, ACBL has been given permission to post the teacher manuals at our web site for free download. The lessons can be downloaded individually. Use the links below to access the new, updated teacher manual.
Here the focus is on beginning (basic) conventions. The student learns about the Conventions most likely to be encountered in a duplicate game for newcomers. The student is introduced to duplicate strategy and the relationship of bids and plays. The course covers Stayman, Jacoby transfers, Jacoby 2NT, weak two-bids, and strong two ♣ openings.
Commonly Used Conventions in the 21st Century Teacher Manual
The ACBL Bridge Series texts and teacher manuals have been updated to reflect modern bidding theory and to complement the Learn to Play Bridge I and II software programs. The texts and support materials, as well as the teacher manuals, are being sold by Baron Barclay Bridge Supply. However, ACBL has been given permission to post the teacher manuals at our web site for free download. The lessons can be downloaded individually. Use the links below to access the new, updated teacher manual.
More Commonly Used Conventions (The Notrump Series)
This series continues to introduce students to some of the conventions they will encounter As they start to play in clubs and tournaments. The course covers negative doubles, the Unusual notrump, Michaels cue bids, slam bidding, leads and signals, and 2/1.
More Commonly Used Conventions in the 21st Century Teacher Manual
The ACBL Bridge Series texts and teacher manuals have been updated to reflect modern bidding theory and to complement the Learn to Play Bridge I and II software programs. The texts and support materials, as well as the teacher manuals, are being sold by Baron Barclay Bridge Supply. However, ACBL has been given permission to post the teacher manuals at our web site for free download. The lessons can be downloaded individually. Use the links below to access the new, updated teacher manual for this course.
Making online bridge lessons more engaging and effective is the purpose of a new “how to teach” workshop jointly sponsored by ACBL and the Education Foundation, and in consultation with the ABTA. It introduces teachers to apps/websites that offer unique teaching capabilities and uses each to demonstrate creative lesson dynamics. Teachers can pick and choose what works best for them. The workshop is content neutral so teachers can use the apps and lesson structures they learn with any materials.
The workshop also assists teachers in creating or repurposing online lessons.
The Online Teacher Certification Workshop was designed by the creator of ACBL’s Best Practices Workshop, it consists of four sessions spread over two days. Note that you must attend all four sessions. Participants have the opportunity to become Certified ACBL Online Teachers at optional sessions later the same week.
Qualifications: You must be able to navigate multiple windows, share screens, set up Zoom breakouts and polls, use SharkBridge’s Teaching Console and learn new apps. Note that proficiency must be demonstratedbefore participation in workshop. You can find helpful tips and tutorials in our Setting Up 4 Success page.
ACBL Online Certification Workshops Calendar
Teaching Engaging Online Lessons Workshop
Dates
Time
Optional Certification
Fee
January 4
Multiple time slots between 4-6 eastern. Email will be sent with sign up information for the 10 minute slots.
Preassessment
January 5
4-6 eastern. If you take this class, you do not need to do the preassessment.
Online tools prep class
optional, $25
January 11 & 12
4-6 eastern.
Modules 1 and 2. Must attend all four modules to be eligible for certification.
January 18 & 19
4-6 eastern.
Modules 3 and 4. Must attend all four modules to be eligible for certification.
January 25, 26 & 27
4 to 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Certification sessions
Note- if you try to register and the workshop is full, please let us know and you will be added to the waiting list. To sign up for email updates about upcoming workshops, contact education@acbl.org.
Thanks to a program from the Educational Foundation, TAP and Best Practices certified teachers can get a special deal on workshop fees. The foundation will pay a partial rebate for costs over $50. The rebate will be automatically refunded to your record of payment after the workshop. The amount charged over the first $50 will be reimbursed (maximum $75 repayment).
ACBL Best Practices Certification Program
The Best Practices Teacher workshop trains teachers on how, rather than what, to teach. It is built around simulations to engage participants in analyzing and practicing as well as giving and receiving feedback on working with students while delivering bridge lessons. Participants have the opportunity to earn ACBL’s Best Teaching Practices Certification by completing a proficiency assessment demonstration after the workshop.
Teachers earning Best Practices Certification receive a special pin and certificate, and are entitled to place the BP Teacher logo on marketing literature as well as have access to special templates for ads, business cards, etc. In addition, they will be distinguished in ACBL’s teacher directory as a Best Practices Teacher.
ACBL Teacher Certification Program Overview
Begin with taking the Basic Bridge Knowledge Test before participating in a Best Practices Teacher Workshop (minimum of 70% score required)
Learn teaching techniques in a Best Practices Teacher Workshop
Earn the Best Practices certification through passing a Proficiency Demonstration (participation in Workshop required)
Best Practices (BP) Teacher Workshop
This contemporary workshop is the centerpiece of ACBL’s new Teacher Certificate Program. It instructs participants on the Best Teaching Practices recommended and validated by over 400 bridge teachers in a recent survey. Training focuses on how, rather than what, to teach.
The Workshop is built around simulations used to engage participants in analyzing and practicing techniques as well as giving and receiving feedback while delivering bridge lessons. Participants may opt to demonstrate their Best Practices proficiency and earn certification as an ACBL Best Practices Teacher through successfully completing demonstrations conducted at the conclusion of the Workshop (additional $25 fee required).
Teachers earning Best Practices Certification receive a special pin and certificate, and are entitled to place the BP Teacher logo on marketing literature as well as have access to special templates for ads, business cards, etc. In addition, they will be distinguished in ACBL’s teacher directory as a Best Practices Teacher.
The Workshop may be held over two full days or three half days.
Participants must be at least 15 years old to take the workshop.
Thanks to a program from the Educational Foundation, TAP and Best Practices certified teachers can get a special deal on workshop fees. The foundation will pay a partial rebate for costs over $50. The rebate will be automatically refunded to your record of payment after the workshop. The amount charged over the first $50 will be reimbursed (maximum $75 repayment).
2021 Calendar
Location
Type
Dates
Times
Contact
Austin TX NABC
BP Teacher Workshop
November 26-29
Friday 1-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.- noon; Proficiency demonstration slots will be scheduled Sunday afternoon and Monday.
Registration opening Summer 2021. Workshop Fee: $125.Register here
The Better Bridge Accreditation Program is managed by Audrey Grant’s Better Bridge organization. Grant has developed teaching methods and the new Bridge Basics series of books to assist teachers in introducing players to duplicate.
The Better Bridge accreditation can be taken both live and online. Visit Better Bridge for more information.
Learn Bridge in A Day?® Instructor Accreditation
This program instructs teachers in methods of administering and presenting LBIAD.
Teachers wishing to be accredited must complete the following two requirements:
Serve as a Table Mentor at an LBIAD seminar led by Patty Tucker, and
Attend a two-hour LBIAD Teacher Training event presented by Whirlwind Bridge.
Teacher Training will include information on organizing and marketing LBIAD as well as maximizing retention rates, writing effective grant requests and the presentation of the seminar. LBIAD Instructor Accreditation is offered at NABCs and other Whirlwind Bridge events.
Easybridge! is a full marketing program designed to start a new club game by recruiting primarily brand new players and social bridge players to duplicate. The participants learn as they play. The lessons are designed to create a new club game and the program is best suited to bridge teachers who are club managers. The Easybridge! teacher-training program is administered by Edward Scanlon.
Easybridge! Presenters are trained through a mail-order course and a telephone follow-up test. Presenter manuals and mini-lessons are available for three levels of study.
Your School Bridge Lesson Program, from start to finish. Continue Reading or view as PDF.
Promoting Your Event
Speaking with Schools
When speaking with schools, focus on the organization of the program first, before the benefits of learning bridge. Students will receive a free bound textbook, with a fun quiz at the end of each chapter. The teacher will receive a Teacher’s Manual that coincides directly with the textbook. EZ Deal Cards are organized deals to help reinforce the lessons in the textbook. All of these supplies and more are provided free of charge by the ACBL. By showing a well-organized and planned activity, schools will feel better about supporting the program.
ACBL has put together an infographic handout highlighting the lasting benefits of school bridge programs based on the Shaw Study. Use it to describe the program’s features and impact on students.
Recruiting Players
Once a school has agreed to let you offer bridge lessons, you need to recruit students. Ask the sponsoring teacher to appoint a student to work with you. If the student is enthusiastic about the bridge lessons, word of mouth will be the best advertisement for the bridge class.
Advertising
Pass out fliers and put ads in the school newspaper to help increase awareness. Ready-made posters and fliers and other resources can be found in the Resources section below.
Upon receipt of your order, you will be sent the following items:
Teacher Manual: One for the teacher
Textbook: One for each student
Playing Cards: One for every table, or 4 students
Drawstring backpack: One per student and per teacher as requested (K-12 only)
Letters to Parents: One for copies (K-12 only)
Student Applications: One per student
Student Certificates: One per student
End-of-Class Tournament Packet: One (K-12 only)
Trophies: Four; two trophies for the N/S pair winner and two for the E/W pair winner (K-12 only)
Complete Consent and Release Forms
In order for the ACBL to accept pictures and/or stories from the class, a Consent and Release form must be completed for each student. Pictures and stories may appear on the ACBL website. These can be scanned or mailed with the final packet at the end of the class.
There is no requirement on the number of lessons that need to be completed in your class. Some classes move faster than others. These books are meant to act as a guide and to give a structure to one method of teaching bridge. Feel free to try different things if you think it would suit your class. We would be particularly interested in hearing about new approaches that are successful.
The End-of-Class tournament is required to receive a stipend and results must be submitted with other stipend request documents. Stipends will not be considered without tournament results.
Teacher Stipend*
You can qualify for a stipend if you are not getting paid more than $150 by the school or other agency for your time. For every class of at least eight students who receive 16 or more hours of bridge instruction and play, you qualify for a $350 stipend. If multiple classes are held, each class will need a separate form listing dates, times and students of that particular class. You may receive a maximum of five (5) stipends per semester. A semester consists of the spring/summer and fall/winter.
To qualify for the stipend, the following must be complete:
ACBL membership dues must be current
Completed W9 on file with the ACBL, if teaching in the U.S
Paperwork must be submitted within 30 days of class completion
All stipend documentation can be scanned and emailed to education@acbl.org. Alternatively, the documentation can be faxed to, 662-253-3187 or mailed to:
Education Department
6575 Windchase Blvd
Horn Lake MS 38637
Stipend requests should be signed by the authorized school or facility administrator* and sent within 30 days of the completion of the class. Requests will not be processed prior to the end-of-class date. Upon receipt of all appropriate and complete documentation, a check will be sent to the home address of the teacher. Teachers must be ACBL members to receive the stipend.
*Teachers cannot sign stipend requests for other teachers in the program.
ACBL Lifelong Learning Program
Guidelines for Teachers
The ACBL’s Lifelong Learning Program is designed to introduce the game of bridge to adults age 50 or older through continuing education programs offered through colleges or universities. Sponsored by the ACBL, this program includes teacher stipends, textbooks and other materials for your classes.
One Month Before Your FIRST Class
Register Your Class and Order Supplies
Once you have a good idea about the number of students, you can request supplies by using the button under teaching programs.
Receive Supplies
Upon receipt of your email, you will be sent the following items:
Teacher Manual: One) for the teacher
TextBook: One for each student
EZ Deal Cards: One for every table or every four students
During Class
Use of Teacher Manual/Books
There is no requirement on the number of lessons that need to be completed in your class. Some classes move faster than others. These books are meant to act as a guide and to give a structure to one method of teaching bridge. Feel free to try different timelines if you think it would suit your class. We would be particularly interested in hearing about new approaches that are successful.
After Completing Your Final Class
Stipend*
You can qualify for a stipend if you are not getting paid more than $150 by the school or other agency for your time. For every class of at least eight students who receive 16 or more hours of bridge instruction and play, you qualify for a $350 stipend. If multiple classes are held, each class will need a separate form listing dates, times and students of that particular class. ACBL will pay up to five (5) stipends per college or university per semester with a maximum of 10 stipends per college or university program per calendar year.
To qualify for the stipend, the following must be complete:
ACBL membership dues must be current.
Completed W-9 form on file with the ACBL, if teaching in the U.S
Completed ACBL Teacher Stipend Request Form, signed by school administrator
Paperwork must be submitted within 30 days of class completion
All stipend documentation can be scanned and emailed to education@acbl.org. Alternatively, the documentation can be faxed to, 662-253-3187 or mailed to:
Education Department
6575 Windchase Blvd
Horn Lake MS 38637
Stipend requests should be signed by the authorized school administrator and sent within 30 days of the completion of the class. Requests will not be processed prior to the end of class date. Upon receipt of all appropriate and complete documentation, a check will be sent to the home address of the teacher within a few weeks.
*Teachers must be ACBL members to receive the stipend.
We are pleased bring you these mini-lessons from Easybridge! Program Director Edward Scanlon. The first page of each lesson is designed to be presented to the students as a hand-out. The top masthead can be replaced with your club’s if you so desire. The second page is for the teacher.
It has an outline of what is to be covered in the lesson, plus a joke with a bridge tie-in and a snack recipe tested tried and true for the bridge club. A full set of these lessons is available from Edward Scanlon at edjsiii@yahoo.com.
Customize the business cards for a bridge-themed introduction to players. For digital marketing materials (web) download the png version. For print marketing materials (fliers, handouts and newspaper ads) download the jpeg version.
For the business card template, you only need to fill in the first card. The others will automatically be populated with your information. We recommend you use cardstock (65 lbs.) for printing the cards. If you print at home, be sure the print settings are set to actual size. You can also take the file to your local print shop.
In bridge parlance, any time you speak or pull a card from your bidding box, you are going to be making a call. Even in an informal game, your vocabulary is limited to fifteen words:
Pass
Double
Redouble
One – Seven
Club
Diamond
Heart
Spade
Notrump
Using a discovery-based learning approach in line with best practices for in-person classes, the ACBL Intro to Bridge Series consists of 2 class series designed to equip students with a simple, starting framework for bidding and play .
A fifth-grade reading level beginning bridge text. Appropriate for new players who have never played before to walk them through the terminology, mechanics and basic bidding of bridge. Includes Stayman and Jacoby Transfers for those who are working with higher level classes. Teacher Manual available.
Jump Start Youth Bridge Package
The Jump Start Youth Bridge package is a workbook based tutorial designed for grades K thru 8. It includes
Student Workbook
Instructor Guide and
A guided slide (PPT) presentation
PBNs of all hands.
Designed to guide players who have never played cards through the mechanics, terminology, scoring, strategy, basic bidding and an introduction to the basic play techniques. Designed for 8 weeks of classes of 1-1/2 hours, it can easily be broken into shorter classes for a longer stretch of time.
The ACBL Bridge Series
Using a “hands-on” approach, the ACBL Bridge Series consists of a progression of five courses, each focusing on a different aspect of the game and bringing the students from absolute beginners through to the point where they can confidently play in any bridge game. Available Materials include
Student textbook
Teacher Manual
EZ Deal cards
Lifelong Learning Materials
The ACBL Intro to Bridge Series I and II
Using a discovery-based learning approach in line with best practices for in-person classes, the ACBL Intro to Bridge Series consists of 2 class series designed to equip students with a simple, starting framework for bidding and play .
Using a “hands-on” approach, the ACBL Bridge Series consists of a progression of five courses, each focusing on a different aspect of the game and bringing the students from absolute beginners through to the point where they can confidently play in any bridge game. Available Materials include
Student textbook
Teacher Manual
EZ Deal cards
College Materials
The ACBL Intro to Bridge Series I and II
Using a discovery-based learning approach in line with best practices for in-person classes, the ACBL Intro to Bridge Series consists of 2 class series designed to equip students with a simple, starting framework for bidding and play .
Using a “hands-on” approach, the ACBL Bridge Series consists of a progression of five courses, each focusing on a different aspect of the game and bringing the students from absolute beginners through to the point where they can confidently play in any bridge game. Available Materials include
Student textbook
Teacher Manual
EZ Deal cards
The Zoom Room is available Tuesday through Thursday, 3:30 pm-5:30 pm (Eastern).
Getting help is easier than ever with the ACBL Zoom Chat service.
Simply click the "Join Zoom Chat" button below to be taken to our dedicated zoom room.
Once there, click the "Launch Meeting" button to start your session. To hear us and vice-versa - don't forget to "Join with computer audio."
If the Zoom Room isn't available and you need answers, you can email us at membership@acbl.org.
Teacher Guidelines 
Order School Bridge Supplies
ACBL Best Practices
Better Bridge
Learn Bridge in a Day!
EasyBridge!
Youth Posters
Business Card Templates
