Welcome and  Click here  for the fact sheet which is also described at the bottom of this page. We have organised two ways you can start playing bridge again:- 

1. Players who have never played online before, needing guidance to play online and accessing your own Improvers resources.

You can combine a three month free 'package' of 24/7 online playing sessions on BridgeClubLive (BCL) as well as access to self-learning resources on Nofearbridge (NFB) **

The playing sessions on BCL can be a choice of Social Bridge or Club Duplicate Bridge or both. In either case we 'hand-hold' you at the table until you are sufficiently comfortable to join a regular weekly Social Bridge Group on Thursday evenings and/or a Friendly Duplicate session on Friday afternoons.

We can give advice on how to get the best out of your Nofearbridge membership and constructing your own improver course. If you are interested in joining us and are able to play regularly, please fill-in the application form.

For further guidance on what is available online see  Bridge Resources

2. Players who are familiar with online Bridge Playing Platforms and wish to play competitive Bridge

The u3a Online Duplicate Bridge Group holds weekly RealBridge Sessions on Tuesday mornings at 10 o/c - further details here

It is recommended that you either read the RealBridge Player Quick Guide or take an 8-hand Taster Session (or both) before joining the Group.

You can pursue either or both opportunities, but whichever one you take, we have a regular informal 'drop-in' session every Wednesday when we will answer any questions you may have, see the  Calendar Month  for details.

** Note: We can only offer the 3 months free membership on NFB if you have either NOT been a previous member or NOT taken the 14-day free trial.

Bridge Development for Improvers and Returners.

Some players learn Bridge by playing with friends, gradually absorbing the rules and best ways to bid and play. Nowadays, most learners take a beginner’s course, either face-to-face, or online -such as the one run by the U3A. These courses typically last about 30 weeks, requiring 2-3 hours of study and 2-3 hours of practice each week. This is a significant commitment of time and energy.

The reality is that learning Bridge is a lifelong process. Most players who complete a beginner’s course realise they still have much to learn and need to develop confidence. We aim to support this development with flexible opportunities that allow players to “dip in and out” as needed. We also provide guidance on the many online learning resources available today.

If you learned Bridge some time ago but have not played regularly in recent years, you might also find this guidance useful. We describe you as “Returners” on our website.

How We Support Improvers and Returners. As a u3a group, we do not promote or endorse specific providers, but we do offer information on a variety of learning opportunities. We compile these resources based on recommendations from our volunteers and learners.

Our Resources page  includes

1. Using the No Fear Bridge website. (NFB). Many u3a members who complete our Beginner’s programme will already be familiar with this website. In addition to beginner materials, NFB provides a structured Improvers Self-Study course, which members can access and complete at their own pace.

• Online providers of Bridge courses (mostly commercial)

• Books focusing on Acol and modern bidding

• Helpful Bridge videos on YouTube

• Providers of extensive online programmes and publications

• Online play platforms

3. Opportunities to Play Bridge Online

Many Returners prefer to play rather than study. We suggest you look at these websites for their online playing sessions.

• u3a Online Duplicate Bridge Group (ODBG):

• Bridge Club Live Group (BCL):  A three-month free package of 24/7 online playing sessions

o Realbridge

o No Fear Bridge

4. Periodic Meetings for Improvers and Returners. Under development. These meetings will provide a space for:

• Reviewing and reflecting on learned concepts

• Sharing experiences from real-world Bridge play

• Focused practice on useful topics

• Advancing beyond the basics with strategy, planning, and tactics

• Introducing new ideas to enhance bidding and play

Each meeting will have pre-session self-study, a one-hour Zoom discussion, and a one-hour RealBridge practice session. Afterwards, additional study pointers will be provided. It is anticipated that these meetings will run monthly from September to June (10 meetings in total). This will be a formal group requiring membership and a small fee for RealBridge access. Applications for September 2025 will be organised in due course.

5. Weekly Open Meetings for All u3a Bridge Players with Queries

We hold informal ‘drop-in’ sessions on Wednesdays, where members can ask questions. To join, find the MS Teams link in our CALENDAR and click the relevant Wednesday link.

We hope these opportunities will help you continue your Bridge journey with confidence and enjoyment.