♠ ♥ Welcome to my website! ♦ ♣ 

Here you can find my class schedule, helpful links to improve your bridge, past recordings and many other useful tips.

Please write me if you have any question at the email

mjhammill@rogers.com

Looking forward to hearing from you !

Thrilled to announce the start of a new weekly supervised game for 0-20 MP players!

WHEN: Thursday evening beginning October 17^th

6:30 pm prompt start.

WHERE: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church, 105 Wilson Avenue

WHAT: A gentle bridge game for players with 0-20 MP. Volunteers will be on hand to answer your bidding questions. Hand of the week analysis with tips on bidding and playing the hand.

A partner will always be guaranteed if you do not have one already.

HOW MUCH: $12 – includes playing 12 boards, hand of the week analysis, volunteers', coffee, tea and cookies. Playing experience in a gentle environment is priceless !

Pre Registration encouraged. Email Josée at mjhammill@rogers.com to be added to mailing list and receive the LIVE registration link. 

We ask that you are on site by no later than 6:10 pm.

If you have taken some lessons but are worried about playing bridge in a club, this opportunity will ease all your hesitations! You will be hooked after just one week! 

Your director Douglas Jordan, our wonderful volunteers and myself are looking forward to having you join us this FALL.

If you would like to be added to our Evening Gentle Bridge Game newsletter, please email me at mjhammill@rogers.com. You will receive periodic updates.

See you there!

Josée Hammill Bridge

2025 Winter Schedule

ALL IN PERSON LESSONS!

Location: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church

 105 Wilson Ave, Toronto

Basics Beginners Bridge Series with Josée Hammill

Enroll in this 8-Week Beginners Course taught in person this Winter at Armour Heights Presbyterian Church, 105 Wilson Avenue

Notice how everyone seems to be learning to play bridge? Well, don’t be left behind! Sign up for a gentle introduction to the best card game in the world. Get ready to play bridge during your very first lesson!

Picture this: you, sitting with friendly faces, cards in hand, and all the excitement of learning something new. That's what this 8-week course is all about. Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the fascinating journey of bridge.

Over the course of the 8 weeks, you will learn all the basic elements of the game of bridge: how to take tricks, how to work with a partner, how to open the bidding in a suit and in No Trump, how to respond, how to compete, and much, much more. During each lesson, you can put theory into practice by playing bridge hands right from the very first lesson!

This course is designed for absolute beginners, ensuring a comfortable and supportive learning environment. Each session will be interactive and fun, providing ample opportunities to ask questions and engage with your fellow students. By the end of the series, you’ll not only have a solid understanding of bridge but also a newfound passion for the game.

Ready to join the fun? Enroll now to secure your spot, and let the bridge adventure begin. Here are more in-depth details:

• DATES:  Starts Wednesday, January 8^th (for 8 weeks), 1 to 3 pm.
• LOCATION: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church, 105 Wilson Avenue
• PRICE: $260. Includes taxes, Barbara Seagram Basic Bridge textbook, PDF of PowerPoint presentations and online recordings.

Intermediate I (advanced beginners) Bridge Series – with Barb Black

Are you feeling rusty or looking to really get the basic bidding and playing concepts? Then, join us for the Intermediate I (Advanced Beginners) Bridge Series. This course is perfect for those looking for a refresher or transitioning from basic lessons. It will help you solidify what you first learned during the Basic Bridge course or if you are returning after a long hiatus will help you modernize your knowledge of the basic bidding and playing techniques.

• DATES: Starts Tuesday, January 7^th (for 7 weeks) – 6:30 to 8:30 pm
• PRICE: $230. Includes taxes, Barbara Seagram Intermediate I textbook,
  PDF of PowerPoint presentations and online recordings.

Introduction To Defence
with Josée Hammill

Learn Defensive Strategies in Just 4 Weeks!

Did you know that during a game, you spend 50% of your time defending? Many players overlook how vital defence is to their success, but the truth is that mastering defence is where the real fun begins! Even with a seemingly weak hand, you can outsmart opponents and prove your prowess at the table. This lesson will teach you and your partner how you can enjoy the game just the same with very few points in your hand and ultimately impress the opponents.

• DATES: Starts Wednesday, January 8^th (for 4 weeks) – 10 to 12 pm.
• PRICE:  $175 (includes Eddie Kantar’s Book Introduction to Defense – new edition revised by Barbara Seagram).

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR ALL CLASSES IS REQUIRED

To register, please contact Josée at mjhammill@rogers.com.
For any questions, feel free to reach out via email or call 416-300-9140.

Payment: Send by etransfer after I have confirmed your registration, to mjhammill@rogers.com or by cheque mailed to 1717 Avenue Road, Suite 418, Toronto, Ontario, M5M0A2.

Following a career in management at TD Bank and volunteering in the community, Barb began her bridge journey in 2012 when a friend invited her to take an 8-week Beginner Bridge Basics course taught by Josee. She was immediately hooked and went on to pursue intermediate courses and ongoing lessons while playing regularly. Encouraged by a friend who played bridge at an advanced level, she soon became an avid Duplicate Bridge player.

Barb particularly enjoys inspiring her friends to take up this wonderful game and has coached many on their bridge journeys. Through this coaching and mentoring, she has developed a passion for teaching bridge and is excited to take the next step into more formal instruction. Barb has been collaborating with Josee in her Bridge Basics and Intermediate courses.

Believing that playing with a variety of partners is key to enjoyment and improvement, Barb plays regularly at Monday Club and Toronto Bridge, and she enjoys attending the many tournaments in and around Toronto. She and her husband reside in North Toronto, while their three grown sons live in Toronto and New York.

Join us for the tournament before winter lessons begin! This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone, especially those who have recently started their bridge journey, including our Bridge Basics graduates!

On Saturday, January 4th, I’ll be offering a free 40-minute lesson followed by a supervised game for players with 0 to 20 Master Points.

We’ll meet in the Sheraton lobby and head to the tournament area together, where I’ll guide you through registration and help you make the most of your first tournament experience. No partner? No worries — I’ll help you find one!

For those who are ready to dive in independently, check out the event schedule linked below. I can’t wait to see you on the 4th!

Looking for GOLD or SILVER masterpoints? Please join us for the Non-Life Master REGIONAL and Open SECTIONAL tournaments January 3 - 5, 2025 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel.

See the flyers in the links below for details.

Tournament Schedule - Toronto NLM Regional

Tournament Schedule - Toronto New Year's Sectional

Jan 3-5, 2025

Sheraton Centre

123 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2M9

Christmas Angels in Support of North York Women's Shelter
Donations Gratefully Received Until December 8

It is the season of giving. There isn’t a day when I don’t feel grateful to be able to hold my classes and games at Armour Heights Presbyterian Church. It was pure serendipity when Barbara Seagram and I called them on a June afternoon in 2018 after having looked for a new home for our bridge school for over 3 months.

Armour Heights is a leader in community giving. This season, their Christmas Angels program supports the North York Women’s Shelter. Our Gentle Bridge Group will be making a contribution as a group. However, there may be some students of mine who want to donate. Just know that any amount will be warmly received. To make things easy, you can make your donation directly by following any of the links below. If you have the ability to indicate that you are a student of mine, please include that, as I know Armour Heights would appreciate it.

"Calling all Angels!" It is a tradition at Armour Heights to share a little Christmas joy with those less fortunate. If you are interested in participating in our Christmas Angels program, this year's Christmas Angel's program will once again support the North York Women's Shelter. North York Women's Shelter helps women, non-binary, and trans folks in times of crisis and aids them in fleeing violent situations. 60% of the shelter's residents are children.  

With your help, we hope to contribute to the shelter this Christmas in two ways: 1) by providing gift cards so clients at the shelter can buy gifts for their loved ones and 2) financial support for education and counselling programs for children. 

Popular gift cards include: Amazon, Old Navy, Walmart, Dollarama and "The PC Gift of Choice Card" from Loblaws. Cash and cheque donations can be made through your offering envelope, or you can make donations online via etransfer to etransfer@armourheights.org, or through CanadaHelps.org and selecting "Christmas Angels" in the Fund drop-down list. Please be sure to include the memo "Christmas Angel."

Please be an angel and contribute before December 8. If you have any further questions, please speak to Susan Murray, Sharon Fischer, Nancy Taylor, or Erin Stone at estone@armourheights.org.

 Erin Stone 
Church Administrator & Manager of Community Engagement   
Armour Heights Presbyterian Church      
105 Wilson Ave.
Toronto, ON  M5M 2Z9    
(416) 485-4000  
estone@armourheights.org        

armourheights.org
Pronouns: she/her

Just a couple pictures taken at the Toronto Easter Bridge Tournament .

The group picture above was taken after the Thursday game when hospitality was offered to all the Intermediate Novice players. A number of us gathered post game, had some pizza, a drink and discussed hands that came up during the game. It is such a fun part of Tournament Bridge - Post Game gatherings.

I received the award on Sunday presented by Andy Risman of Unit 166. Andy was the recipient last year.

Fun was had by all ! Now I am looking for someone with a place big enough to house the award :)

JOSÉE’S PRE-RECORDED LESSONS

Available for Purchase - Learn on your own time!

All courses are complete, with all recordings, slides, and handouts, so you can watch them in your free time, at your convenience.

Contact me at mjhammill@rogers.com for pricing and additional details. 

Splinter Bids – Apr 2024

My brand new recorded lesson on Splinter Bids is finally ready! Splinters are very descriptive bids that promise excellent trump support, shortness and a game going hand - all in one bid!

What to Expect:

• A very detailed PowerPoint presentation on the mechanics of this bid and the follow ups.
• How to revalue your hand after a splinter bid.
• When slam should be a good proposition and when a game is the maximum you can hope for.
• Then we move to BBO to bid and play 12 hands.

Let’s Recap EVERYTHING You’ll Get!

1. You will receive a handout of all 12 hands with commentary on bidding and playing.
2. Plus, my 2-hour video, that you can watch on your own time, and follow every deal along with the handouts.
3. A copy of all slides used during the presentation in PDF
4. Finally, I'll be available by email to answer anything that may come up during the lesson. Reach out to me with all your questions - even the wildest ones!

And the best part is: you’ll be able to apply everything you learn right away.

Bidding and Playing Shapely Hands – Nov 2023

In this lesson you’ll be ready for a thrilling journey through 12 meticulously crafted, shapely hands boasting big shapes and distribution that will redefine your approach to the game.

What to Expect:

- Let's bid and play 12 hands with unique shapes and distribution that will challenge and elevate your bridge skills. Think 6-5 hands, 6-4 hands and such!

- Uncover strategic insights on bidding and playing these shapely hands to enhance your overall gameplay.

- Learn from the comfort of your own space with this

pre-recorded lesson, allowing you to master the material at your own pace.

Price: $25, in any currency and form of payment.

COMPETITIVE BIDDING (2023)

My brand-new recorded lesson on Competitive Bidding is ready! You'll learn how to use takeout doubles, overcalls, jump overcalls, and improve your competitive bidding arsenal.

Now let's see what's inside: In this new recorded lesson, we will play together 12 specially selected hands, some from prolific writer and accomplished bridge player Eddie Kantar and others I have dug out from my bottomless pit of practice hands.

Here's just a small sample of the 12 deals that we'll cover:

• Why you should avoid takeout doubles when holding a six card major. 
• What's the best strategy to play when looking around for a missing queen.
• When giving partner a ruff, which card you should return?
• When doing a jump overcall, what's the key factor you need to consider?
• If you pass a one level takeout double, what are you telling partner about the opponent's trump suit?
• Lots of Bidding, Play and Defensive commentaries, so you can study the hands from every angle!

AVOIDANCE PLAYS (Dec 2022)

Avoidance means just preventing (or avoiding) a particular defender from gaining the lead. And identifying who is the danger and safe opponent.

That means, after you learn this simple technique, you can open the door to think like an expert, in just mere hours! It’s an incredible valuable skill that anyone can learn and use during all future games.

So let's see what's inside: In this new recorded lesson, we will play together 12 specially selected hands from prolific writer and accomplished bridge player Eddie Kantar.

Here's just a small sample of the 12 deals that we'll cover:

• When your contract depends on one of two finesses, how you can decide which one you should take?
• How to identify the danger and non-danger hand (and why you should do it right before playing to the first trick!)
• When planning the play, see the reason for looking at the whole hand as a unit, rather than concentrating on only one suit. 
• Why it's sometimes a bad idea to play bridge by nursery rhymes (“Eight ever, nine never”, etc.).
• When dummy holds a king vulnerable to attack, how to identify who you should keep off lead as long as you can?

As an extra bonus, you'll also receive a PDF file with eleven additional hands commented by Easley Blackwood, featuring:

• How you could manipulate things so that the safe hand gets the lead while you're still establishing your long suit.
• Why avoidance will sometimes be the very good reason you finesse for a queen when you are missing only four cards in the suit. 
• When you have to take two finesses, it might make a big difference which one you take first. See one example where, even if both finesses fail, the contract still succeeds.
• Another hand showing that if you can't keep a dangerous opponent off lead forever, you’ll see how to keep him out of the lead until he can’t do you any damage. 

And sooooo MUCH more... This is the mini-video that was in my last newsletter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brubNfb0RB4 . Watch it to give you a bit of a sense of what the lesson will look like, and always let me know if you have any questions.

No Trump Defence (Sep 2022)

During this lesson, we will play together 12 specially selected hands from prolific writer and accomplished bridge player Eddie Kantar.

Here's just a small sample of the 12 deals that we'll cover in this live lesson:

• Which thinking habits you, as third hand, must have after the opening lead is made?
• What is a negative discard, and why they are so important at No Trump?
• Before returning partner’s suit, why and how to count declarer’s tricks?
• Holding 4 small cards, when you should lead the top one, and when lead the second highest?
• When declarer leads a suit, why we give count to partner.

The 90-minute lesson includes a handout of all the hands (with commentary from Eddie Kantar). This is an awesome opportunity to get moving towards better defence!

This is the mini-video that was on my last newsletter, https://youtu.be/zejs-4gtW_c.  Watch it to give you a bit of a sense of what that lesson will look like, and always let me know if you have any questions.

Ducking by Declarer in Suit Contracts (Jun 2022)

You know that, most of the time, the fate of the hand is determined by how you play to the first trick. That's why many contracts can be won or lost because of that first trick.

Some of the things that you will learn in this lesson:

• There's one outstanding difference with ducking plays in suit contracts, you need to know exactly when trumps must be drawn (and what happens if you don't do it!).
• What are the 3 main reasons for making a ducking play in a suit contract.
• Why some hands can be made if you duck the first trick and win the second, while strangely enough the contract cannot be made if you win the first trick.

And much, much more! We'll play each hand twice. One without ducking, and again, the same hand ducking. Then you can easily see what happens in each case.

The 90-minute lesson includes a handout of all the hands (with commentary from Eddie Kantar).

This is an awesome opportunity to get moving towards better declarer play!

Introduction To Defence

Have you noticed that you are defending at bridge 50% of the time? That is right! Did you know that being on Defence is the most fun you can ever have at the bridge table even when you do not have any points in your hand? Let me teach you how to have more fun and to gain respect from all players when you show them you know how to defend! 

• Opening Leads against No Trump and Suit contracts
• 2^nd hand play
• 3^rd hand play
• Signaling against No Trump and Suit contracts
• And much, much more!!

Includes Eddie Kantar’s book - 2nd edition, revised and updated by Barbara Seagram.

Introduction To Declarer Play

Bidding is great and winning the contract even better. But if you do not know how to make a plan to make your contract then what good is that! In this 4 week course you will learn :

• Counting Losers
• Counting Winners
• Ruffing losers in the Dummy
• Extra Winners in the Dummy or in Declarer’s Hand
• Long Suit Establishment (aka Taking Tricks with Tiny Cards)
• When and How to take a Finesse and much more! 

Includes Eddie Kantar’s book - 2nd edition, revised and updated by Barbara Seagram.

Thinking Bridge – Plan Your Moves!

Whatever seat you are in, you have to be planning your moves. Let’s spend these sessions where we explore what it feels like to sit in any and all 4 seats, and think like an expert. Only time you will be allowed to relax will be when in the dummy’s seat. Complete set of different hands for each of the dates. You will love them!

Basics Beginners Bridge Series

Learn the basic elements of the game of bridge: how to take tricks, how to work with a partner, how to open the bidding in a suit and in No Trump, how to respond, how to compete and more.

An 8 week course includes all recordings, PDF of presentations and practice hands for each week.

Intermediate I Bridge Series

For those who feel rusty and need a refresher and for those moving up from Basic lessons. Opportunities to play and practice online will be provided. Lessons are recorded and can be watched on your own time.

A 7 week course includes all recordings, PDF of presentations and practice hands for each week.

Includes Barbara Seagram Intermediate I book.

Intermediate 2

Weak Two Bids, Strong 2 Club Bids, Slam Bidding, Cue-Bidding First Round Controls, Preempts, Unusual NT, Michaels Cuebids, Opening Light in 3rd seat, Balancing, End Plays, Cross-Ruff, Loser-on-loser play, Introduction to defence, ...and MUCH more!!

An 8 week course includes all recordings, PDF of presentations and practice hands for each week.

Includes Barbara Seagram Intermediate 2 book.

Intermediate 3

Intermediate III is a full course on Defence and Conventions!

• DEFENCE: Third Hand Play, Second Hand Play, Suit Preference Signalling, Strategy on Defence, Lead Directing Doubles, Discarding. 
• CONVENTIONS: Negative Doubles, Jacoby 2 NT as a forcing raise, Jacoby Transfers, Texas Transfers, Splinters, Roman Key Card Blackwood, Cue Bids, Slam Bidding and lots more! 

Includes Barbara Seagram Intermediate 3 book.

Learn To Play Two Over One

Learn the system that most of North America now plays. It makes it much easier to get to a better contract, easier to find slams on fewer values and easier to know when to stop in a part score.   Learn the forcing No Trump bid.  

A two day course + one additional hour of practice hands.

Includes Barbara Seagram 2/1 Game Force book.

Bid And Play – The Convention Series

• Lesson 1 - DONT over 1NT Opening Bid
• Lesson 2 - Reverse Drury
• Lesson 3 - Jacoby 2NT and Splinters
• Lesson 4 - Reverse Bergen/Bergen Raises
• Lesson 5 - New Minor Forcing/Checkback Stayman
• Lesson 6 - Fourth Suit Forcing
• Lesson 7 - Four Way Transfers

All lessons come with recordings and PDF of practice hands. Purchase each lesson individually or all 7 for  the price of 6.

Email me at mjhammill@rogers.com for additional details and pricing.

If you enjoy a game of bridge, then the American Contract Bridge League is the place to be! Being an ACBL member gives you exclusive access to one-of-a-kind benefits that all bridge fans – from newcomers to advanced players – will love.

When you join this bridge-loving community, you’ll be able to experience all that membership offers, like playing with fellow devotees in clubs and tournaments across North America, winning masterpoints® to show off your success and reading a world-class monthly magazine.

You will start collecting masterpoints, that’s ACBL’s exclusive measurement of success. Call them Bragging rights! 

• You get to climb the achievement ladder, from Rookie to Life Master and much higher!
• You will receive in your mailbox the excellent monthly Bridge Bulletin, full of news, tips and games.
• Game results are sent directly to your inbox and cell phone with ACBL Live and Live for Clubs.

And so much more!!! 

The ACBL makes it easy for you as a new player to explore all the benefits of being an ACBL member. You can join for free for 120 days as a guest, at www.acbl.org/guest-join

Guest Member Benefits

• You will receive a weekly email with bridge tips from Patty
• You can earn up to 20 masterpoints – we give our Masterpoints at our Gentle Bridge game but they are only good when you are a member.
• You will have digital access to the Bridge Bulletin
• If after 120 days you are convinced this is a good deal, you can join as a full member with the special pricing of $29 US for the first year of regular membership if you are a guest member first.   Receiving a hard copy of the glossy monthly magazine at your home is worth the price of admission!  It is easy to join as a guest, try it now!