Bridge Lesson Library | ACBL Community Game
A searchable library of bridge lessons from ACBL’s Community Game, covering bidding, declarer play, defense, hand evaluation, and convention basics. Written for players at every level, from beginner to advanced.
Each lesson includes a downloadable PDF. Many now include a video walkthrough as well. Use the filters below to narrow by topic, subtopic, or skill level, or search by keyword.
| Lesson | Topic | Subtopic | Level | Video | Play Hands | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Clubs Openers Rules | Bidding: Conventions | 2♣ Strong Opening | Advanced | Play | 12/18/2025 | |
| Signaling-Count When | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/20/2025 |
| Signaling-Attitude when | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/18/2025 |
| Playing a Loser on a Loser-Do I Gain | Declarer Play | Loser-on-Loser | Advanced | Watch | Play | 11/13/2025 |
| Should I Draw Trumps | Declarer Play | Trump Management | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/11/2025 |
| Competing Against Their 1NT Opener | Bidding: Competitive | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/6/2025 |
| Promoting Winners by Ruffing | Declarer Play | Ruffing Techniques | Intermediate | Play | 10/30/2025 | |
| Eliminating Losers by Discarding | Declarer Play | Eliminating Losers | Intermediate | Play | 10/28/2025 | |
| Who s the Captain | Hand Evaluation | Fit & Captaincy | Intermediate | Play | 10/23/2025 | |
| How Hand Evaluation Changes | Hand Evaluation | General | Beginner | Play | 10/21/2025 | |
| Covering Honors with Honors | Defender Play & Signals | Honor Play | Intermediate | Play | 10/16/2025 | |
| Splitting Honors | Defender Play & Signals | Honor Play | Intermediate | Play | 10/14/2025 | |
| Leads against NT Contracts | Opening Leads | General | Intermediate | Play | 10/9/2025 | |
| Leads against Suit Contracts | Opening Leads | General | Intermediate | Play | 10/7/2025 | |
| Responder s Job | Bidding: Responding | General | Intermediate | Play | 10/2/2025 | |
| Non-Forcing bids | Bidding: Responding | Forcing vs. Invitational | Intermediate | Play | 9/30/2025 | |
| Forcing bids | Bidding: Responding | Forcing vs. Invitational | Intermediate | Play | 9/25/2025 | |
| Invitational bids | Bidding: Responding | Forcing vs. Invitational | Intermediate | Play | 9/23/2025 | |
| Unblocking by Defenders | Defender Play & Signals | Unblocking | Intermediate | Play | 9/18/2025 | |
| Unblocking by Declarer | Declarer Play | Unblocking | Intermediate | Play | 9/16/2025 | |
| Unusual 2NT more-harder topic | Bidding: Competitive | Unusual 2NT | Advanced | Play | 9/11/2025 | |
| Unusual 2NT showing 2 lowest unbid | Bidding: Competitive | Unusual 2NT | Advanced | Play | 9/9/2025 | |
| 3rd Hand High only as high as necessary | Defender Play & Signals | 2nd/3rd Hand Play | Beginner | Watch | Play | 9/4/2025 |
| 2nd Hand Low give partner a chance | Defender Play & Signals | 2nd/3rd Hand Play | Beginner | Watch | Play | 9/2/2025 |
| Opening Leads against Suits Which Suit Then Which Card | Opening Leads | General | Beginner | Play | 6/24/2025 | |
| Imagining Declarer s Tricks using Attitude | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Play | 6/19/2025 | |
| Imagining Declarer s Tricks Using Count | Declarer Play | Planning & Counting | Intermediate | Play | 6/17/2025 | |
| Unblocking-Watch Those Intermediate Cards | Declarer Play | Unblocking | Intermediate | Play | 5/27/2025 | |
| Unblocking-Low from the Long Hands | Declarer Play | Unblocking | Intermediate | Play | 5/22/2025 | |
| Dumping Losers-Find Quick Losers in Dummy | Declarer Play | Eliminating Losers | Intermediate | Play | 5/20/2025 | |
| 6-5 Shapes-How to Treat These Combinations | Hand Evaluation | General | Intermediate | Play | 5/15/2025 | |
| Responding to a 1♦ Opening | Bidding: Responding | After Minor/Major Opening | Beginner | Play | 5/13/2025 | |
| Responding to 1♣-Modern bidding style | Bidding: Responding | After Minor/Major Opening | Beginner | Play | 5/8/2025 | |
| Bidding Zones-NT-How high and where are we going | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | Bidding Zones | Beginner | Play | 5/6/2025 | |
| Bidding Zones-Suits-How high if we fit | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | Bidding Zones | Beginner | Play | 5/1/2025 | |
| Get out Aces or Finesses | Declarer Play | Finessing | Intermediate | Play | 4/22/2025 | |
| How to Turn Yourself Upside Down-Setting Up Dummy with Jacoby Transfers | Declarer Play | Planning & Counting | Beginner | Play | 4/17/2025 | |
| Suit Contracts-When and how to crossruff a hand | Declarer Play | Ruffing Techniques | Advanced | Play | 4/15/2025 | |
| Trump Management | Declarer Play | Trump Management | Intermediate | Play | 4/10/2025 | |
| When to draw trumps | Declarer Play | Trump Management | Intermediate | Play | 4/8/2025 | |
| Managing Good and Ugly trumps Part 2 | Declarer Play | Trump Management | Intermediate | Play | 4/3/2025 | |
| Managing Good and Ugly trumps Part 1 | Declarer Play | Trump Management | Intermediate | Play | 4/1/2025 | |
| Over rated Honor Doubleton Flat Hand | Hand Evaluation | General | Intermediate | Play | 3/20/2025 | |
| Suit Quality is Terrible Quacks | Hand Evaluation | General | Intermediate | Play | 3/18/2025 | |
| I Have Their Suit | Hand Evaluation | With Opponents Suit | Intermediate | Play | 3/13/2025 | |
| We found NO Fit | Hand Evaluation | Fit & Captaincy | Intermediate | Play | 3/11/2025 | |
| I Love My Shape | Hand Evaluation | General | Intermediate | Play | 3/6/2025 | |
| Honors Behind the Strong Opponent | Hand Evaluation | Positional Factors | Intermediate | Play | 3/4/2025 | |
| Responding with Slam-going hands-We Found NO Fit | Bidding: Slam | Slam Bidding | Advanced | Play | 2/27/2025 | |
| Responding with Slam-going hands-With a Fit | Bidding: Slam | Slam Bidding | Advanced | Play | 2/25/2025 | |
| Responding with Game-going hands-We Found NO Fit | Bidding: Responding | General | Beginner | Play | 2/20/2025 | |
| Responding with Game-going hands-With a Fit | Bidding: Responding | General | Beginner | Play | 2/18/2025 | |
| Responders with Invitational Hands-Invite in a Suit | Bidding: Responding | General | Intermediate | Play | 2/13/2025 | |
| Responders with Invitational Hands-Invite in Nothrump | Bidding: Responding | General | Intermediate | Play | 2/11/2025 | |
| Responders with Weak Hands-We Found NO Fit | Bidding: Responding | General | Intermediate | Play | 2/6/2025 | |
| Responders with Weak Hands-Hands That Fit | Bidding: Responding | General | Intermediate | Play | 2/4/2025 | |
| Competing in the Auction-Takeout Doubles-Takeout Doubles at the 2-level or Higher | Bidding: Competitive | Takeout Doubles | Beginner | Play | 1/30/2025 | |
| Competing in the Auction-Takeout Doubles-Takeout Doubles at the 1-level | Bidding: Competitive | Takeout Doubles | Beginner | Play | 1/28/2025 | |
| Competing in the Auction-Overcalling-Overcalling in a Suit | Bidding: Competitive | Overcalls | Intermediate | Play | 1/23/2025 | |
| Competing in the Auction-Overcalling-Overcalling in NT | Bidding: Competitive | Overcalls | Intermediate | Play | 1/21/2025 | |
| Opening the Auction-Hand Evaluation for Preempts-Preempt 3-Level | Bidding: Competitive | Preempts | Beginner | Play | 1/16/2025 | |
| Opening the Auction-Hand Evaluation for Preempts-Preempt 2-Level | Bidding: Competitive | Preempts | Beginner | Play | 1/14/2025 | |
| Opening the Auction-Hand Evaluation-We Found NO Fit | Hand Evaluation | General | Beginner | Play | 1/9/2025 | |
| Opening the Auction-Hand Evaluation-We Found a Fit | Hand Evaluation | General | Beginner | Play | 1/7/2025 | |
| 1NT-are systems on | Bidding: Conventions | 1NT Systems | Beginner | Play | 1/2/2025 | |
| Responding to 1NT with a Slam-going Hand | Bidding: Slam | Slam Bidding | Advanced | Watch | Play | 12/19/2024 |
| Responding to 1NT with a Game Forcing Hand | Bidding: Responding | After 1NT | Beginner | Watch | Play | 12/17/2024 |
| Responding to 1NT with an Invitational hand | Bidding: Responding | After 1NT | Beginner | Watch | Play | 12/12/2024 |
| Responding to 1NT with a Weak hand | Bidding: Responding | After 1NT | Beginner | Watch | Play | 12/10/2024 |
| Many Faces of 2NT | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | 1NT/2NT Openers | Beginner | Watch | Play | 12/5/2024 |
| Many Faces of 1NT | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | 1NT/2NT Openers | Beginner | Watch | Play | 12/3/2024 |
| Should I Open in 1st or 2nd Seat | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/26/2024 |
| Opening in 4th Seat | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | General | Beginner | Watch | Play | 11/21/2024 |
| Opening in the 3rd Seat | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | General | Beginner | Watch | Play | 11/19/2024 |
| Weak JumpShifts as Responder | Bidding: Competitive | Weak Jump Shifts | Advanced | Watch | Play | 11/14/2024 |
| Weak JumpShifts as Overcaller | Bidding: Competitive | Overcalls | Advanced | Watch | Play | 11/12/2024 |
| Balancing-1NT suit-P-P | Bidding: Competitive | Balancing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/7/2024 |
| Balancing-1 of a suit-P-P | Bidding: Competitive | Balancing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/5/2024 |
| Opening leads Which Suit Listen to the Bidding-Part 2 | Opening Leads | General | Beginner | Watch | Play | 10/31/2024 |
| Opening leads Which Suit Listen to the Bidding-Part 1 | Opening Leads | General | Beginner | Watch | Play | 10/29/2024 |
| Opening leads Which Card-Part 2 | Opening Leads | General | Beginner | Watch | Play | 10/24/2024 |
| Opening leads Which Card-Part 1 | Opening Leads | General | Beginner | Watch | Play | 10/22/2024 |
| Protecting Your Honor-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Suit Establishment | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 10/17/2024 |
| Protecting Your Honor-Part 1 | Declarer Play | Suit Establishment | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 10/15/2024 |
| Hold Up Plays-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Hold-Up Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 10/10/2024 |
| Hold Up Plays-Part 1 | Declarer Play | Hold-Up Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 10/8/2024 |
| Watch Out for the Opponents-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Planning at Trick 1 | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 10/3/2024 |
| Watch Out for the Opponents-Part 1 | Declarer Play | Planning at Trick 1 | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 10/1/2024 |
| Practicing more Finesses-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Finessing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/26/2024 |
| Practicing more Finesses-Part 1 | Declarer Play | Finessing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/24/2024 |
| Discarding a Loser-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Eliminating Losers | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/19/2024 |
| Discarding a Loser-Part 1 | Declarer Play | Eliminating Losers | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/17/2024 |
| Dummy Points and Ruffing in Dummy-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Ruffing Techniques | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/12/2024 |
| Dummy Points and Ruffing in Dummy-Part 1 | Declarer Play | Ruffing Techniques | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/10/2024 |
| The Finesse Part 2 | Declarer Play | Finessing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/5/2024 |
| The Finesse Part 1 | Declarer Play | Finessing | Beginner | Watch | Play | 9/3/2024 |
| Using Length in Suit and NT Contracts-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Suit Establishment | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/29/2024 |
| Using Length in Suit and NT Contracts-Part 1 | Declarer Play | Suit Establishment | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/27/2024 |
| Promotion in Suits and NT-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Promoting Winners | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/22/2024 |
| Counting Losers and Drawing Trump-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Trump Management | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/15/2024 |
| Counting Losers and Drawing Trump-Part 1 | Declarer Play | Trump Management | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/13/2024 |
| Counting Winners and Entries-Part 2 | Declarer Play | Planning & Counting | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/8/2024 |
| Counting Winners Entries-1 | Declarer Play | Planning & Counting | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/6/2024 |
| Opener s Rebid | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/1/2024 |
| Finding Controls | Bidding: Slam | Slam Bidding | Advanced | Watch | Play | 6/25/2024 |
| Second Hand Low | Defender Play & Signals | 2nd/3rd Hand Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 6/20/2024 |
| Negative Doubles | Bidding: Competitive | Negative Doubles | Beginner | Watch | Play | 6/18/2024 |
| 1st Trick Decisions | Declarer Play | Planning at Trick 1 | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 6/13/2024 |
| 4th Suit Forcing | Bidding: Conventions | 4th Suit Forcing | Advanced | Watch | Play | 6/11/2024 |
| Leads vs NT-Which suit-Which card | Opening Leads | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 6/6/2024 |
| Leads vs Suits-Which suit-Which card | Opening Leads | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 6/4/2024 |
| Hold Up Plays-Defenders | Defender Play & Signals | Hold-Up Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 5/30/2024 |
| Hold Up Plays-Declarer | Declarer Play | Hold-Up Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 5/28/2024 |
| Keeping Parity | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 5/23/2024 |
| Negative Carding | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 5/21/2024 |
| Finessing Part 2 | Declarer Play | Finessing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 5/16/2024 |
| Best Contract after 1NT Part 2 | Bidding: Responding | After 1NT | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 5/9/2024 |
| Best Contract after 1NT Part 1 | Bidding: Responding | After 1NT | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 5/7/2024 |
| 1NT Openers and Great Hand Play Tips | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | 1NT/2NT Openers | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 5/2/2024 |
| Negative Doubles Review | Bidding: Competitive | Negative Doubles | Beginner | Watch | Play | 4/30/2024 |
| Attitude Entries Preempts and Defense Promotion vs Finessing | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 4/25/2024 |
| Balancing Cross-Ruffs Third Hand Play Watching Entries | Declarer Play | Ruffing Techniques | Advanced | Watch | Play | 4/23/2024 |
| Attitude on opening lead Entries Preempts and Defense Promotion vs finessing | Opening Leads | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 4/18/2024 |
| Eliminating losers Playing in NT-finesse or not Suit preference signal Unblocking | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 4/16/2024 |
| Using Judgment to Open the Hand Cont | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | Opening Judgment | Advanced | Watch | Play | 4/11/2024 |
| Using Judgment to Open the Hand | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | Opening Judgment | Advanced | Watch | Play | 4/9/2024 |
| Reverses-The Wicked Stepchild | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | General | Advanced | Watch | Play | 3/28/2024 |
| Common Bidding Mistakes | Bidding: General | Tips & Mistakes | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 3/26/2024 |
| Trick 1-The Plan | Declarer Play | Planning at Trick 1 | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 3/21/2024 |
| Defense Without a Partner | Defender Play & Signals | Defensive Technique | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 3/19/2024 |
| New Minor Forcing | Bidding: Conventions | New Minor Forcing | Advanced | Watch | Play | 3/12/2024 |
| Don t Let Them Play at the 2-Level | Bidding: Competitive | Protecting Low Contracts | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 3/7/2024 |
| Balancing in the 4th Seat | Bidding: Competitive | Balancing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 3/5/2024 |
| Recognizing the Captain | Hand Evaluation | Fit & Captaincy | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 2/29/2024 |
| Lead Directing Doubles | Opening Leads | Lead-Directing Doubles | Advanced | Watch | Play | 2/27/2024 |
| Passed Hand Bidding | Bidding: Responding | Passed Hand Bidding | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 2/22/2024 |
| Hand Evaluation Throughout the Auction | Hand Evaluation | General | Beginner | Watch | Play | 2/20/2024 |
| Loser on Loser Play | Declarer Play | Loser-on-Loser | Advanced | Watch | Play | 2/15/2024 |
| Watching Entries | Declarer Play | Planning & Counting | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 2/13/2024 |
| Slam Bidding-Cuebid the Controls | Bidding: Slam | Slam Bidding | Advanced | Watch | Play | 2/8/2024 |
| Slam Bidding-Asking for Controls | Bidding: Slam | Slam Bidding | Advanced | Watch | Play | 2/6/2024 |
| Cross-Ruffing-When is it Right | Declarer Play | Ruffing Techniques | Advanced | Watch | Play | 2/1/2024 |
| Do s and Don ts by Responder | Bidding: Responding | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 1/25/2024 |
| Eliminate Losers by Ruffing | Declarer Play | Ruffing Techniques | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 1/18/2024 |
| Eliminate Losers by Discarding | Declarer Play | Eliminating Losers | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 1/16/2024 |
| Michaels Cuebid | Bidding: Conventions | Michaels Cuebid | Advanced | Watch | Play | 1/11/2024 |
| Competing against an Opening 1NT | Bidding: Competitive | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 1/9/2024 |
| Unblocking-Defenders | Defender Play & Signals | Unblocking | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 1/4/2024 |
| Unblocking-Declarer | Declarer Play | Unblocking | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 1/2/2024 |
| Western Cuebid Looking for a Stopper | Bidding: Conventions | Western Cuebid | Advanced | Watch | Play | 12/21/2023 |
| Help Suit Game Try | Bidding: Conventions | Help Suit Game Try | Advanced | Watch | Play | 12/19/2023 |
| Hold Up Play-Defenders | Defender Play & Signals | Hold-Up Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 12/14/2023 |
| Hold Up Play-Declarer | Declarer Play | Hold-Up Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 12/12/2023 |
| Leads vs Suits-Choose the suit and card | Opening Leads | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 12/7/2023 |
| Leads vs NT-Choose the suit and card | Opening Leads | General | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 12/5/2023 |
| 2C Strong-Responding | Bidding: Conventions | 2♣ Strong Opening | Advanced | Watch | Play | 11/30/2023 |
| 2C Strong-Not just 22 points | Bidding: Conventions | 2♣ Strong Opening | Advanced | Watch | Play | 11/28/2023 |
| When should we Split Honors | Defender Play & Signals | Honor Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/16/2023 |
| When to Cover an Honor with an Honor | Defender Play & Signals | Honor Play | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/14/2023 |
| Forcing Non-Forcing or Invitational Part 2 | Bidding: Responding | Forcing vs. Invitational | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/9/2023 |
| Forcing Non-Forcing or Invitational | Bidding: Responding | Forcing vs. Invitational | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/7/2023 |
| When to open 1NT with 14 HCP | Bidding: Opening & Rebids | 1NT/2NT Openers | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 11/2/2023 |
| Rule of 22 | Hand Evaluation | General | Beginner | Watch | Play | 10/31/2023 |
| 3rd Hand High Part 2 | Defender Play & Signals | 2nd/3rd Hand Play | Beginner | Play | 10/26/2023 | |
| 3rd Hand High | Defender Play & Signals | 2nd/3rd Hand Play | Beginner | Watch | Play | 10/24/2023 |
| 2nd Hand Low | Defender Play & Signals | 2nd/3rd Hand Play | Beginner | Watch | Play | 10/19/2023 |
| 2nd Hand Low how to decide | Defender Play & Signals | 2nd/3rd Hand Play | Beginner | Play | 10/17/2023 | |
| Cuebids showing Majors | Bidding: Conventions | Cuebids | Advanced | Watch | Play | 10/12/2023 |
| Unusual 2NT | Bidding: Competitive | Unusual 2NT | Advanced | Watch | Play | 10/10/2023 |
| Defensive Signals-Suit Preference | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 10/5/2023 |
| Defensive Signals-Count and Attitude | Defender Play & Signals | Signals | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 10/3/2023 |
| 2-Level Overcalling | Bidding: Competitive | Overcalls | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/28/2023 |
| 1-Level Overcalling | Bidding: Competitive | Overcalls | Intermediate | Play | 9/26/2023 | |
| Preempts | Bidding: Competitive | Preempts | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/21/2023 |
| Weak Twos | Bidding: Competitive | Preempts | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 9/19/2023 |
| More Jacoby Transfers Part 2 | Bidding: Conventions | Jacoby Transfers | Beginner | Watch | Play | 9/14/2023 |
| More Jacoby Transfers | Bidding: Conventions | Jacoby Transfers | Beginner | Watch | Play | 9/12/2023 |
| Jacoby Transfers | Bidding: Conventions | Jacoby Transfers | Beginner | Watch | Play | 9/5/2023 |
| More Negative Doubles | Bidding: Competitive | Negative Doubles | Beginner | Watch | Play | 8/31/2023 |
| More Takeout Doubles | Bidding: Competitive | Takeout Doubles | Beginner | Watch | Play | 8/24/2023 |
| Takeout Doubles | Bidding: Competitive | Takeout Doubles | Beginner | Watch | Play | 8/22/2023 |
| More Finessing | Declarer Play | Finessing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/17/2023 |
| Finessing | Declarer Play | Finessing | Intermediate | Watch | Play | 8/15/2023 |
| Stayman-Game-Forcing Hands | Bidding: Conventions | Stayman | Beginner | Watch | Play | 8/10/2023 |
| Stayman-Invitational Hands | Bidding: Conventions | Stayman | Beginner | Watch | Play | 8/8/2023 |
