Wes Powers

NEWS FLASH: I am currently teaching primarily online, because of the Covid pandemic. See my Online Teaching page for details.

I am a very active Bridge director and teacher.

Directing: I have been a club director for over 15 years, and currently direct three games per week.
Teaching: I am a very active teacher. I typically teach between 5-10 different classes each week at several sites, from beginner through advanced levels.

My Teaching Philosophy

HAVE FUN! I never forget that Bridge is a GAME. It's supposed to be FUN. If bridge lessons descend into drudgery, they aren't effective.
I don't believe in teaching a lot of conventions and aritificial bids. It's more important to be able to THINK and apply the basics to situations that come up. That said, many players are looking to learn new conventions, and I am certainly capable of teaching them effectively.
I believe in lots of practice, and my practice sessions don't always use "textbook" deals. I include "real world" examples, where the proper action isn't always clear.
I don't shy away from teaching Play of the Hand and Defense. These are more difficult to teach well, and many teachers tend to focus on bidding, because it's easier to teach. But most players would improve most by working on their declarer play and defense.

The following classes are open to all players.

Class	When	Where	Cost	Details
Shuffle and Deal (in person)	Every Wednesday, 9:00 to 11:00 AM	Yorktown Bridge Club, Jenkintown, PA	$10 per person	This is a Supervised Play session. Come and play bridge with me there to critique and answer questions. No need to preregister, just show up!
Noncompetitive Suit Auctions (online)	7 Mondays, Jan 9 to Feb 20, 1:00 to 2:30 PM	Online, using ZOOM	$15 per class, or $90 for the entire series (buy 6, get 1 free!)	I am going to run a series of classes reviewing basic bidding. This is ideal for newer players who could use a more in-depth look at bidding fundamentals, as well as more experienced players who want a review of the basics. First up: a 7-week program reviewing non-competitive suit auctions. This series will look at auctions that start with 1 of a suit when the opponents do not compete. This is intended as a series of 7 classes, but each class will stand alone; you can attend individual parts if you want. Each class will be 90 minutes (instead of my usual 60), in order to have more time for practice. I will also have additional optional practice sessions. Please see the Class Description for more details.

NOTE: Proof of COVID vaccination is required for all in person classes. At this time, masks are optional.

My schedule is pretty full, but if you are interested in lessons or director services, please contact me at bridge@wespowers.com