Arriving at the end of this first month of training, you will want to make a checklist of these first steps and may notice that all is not well. They do any old thing; leading out of turn, attacking from the wrong hand, playing out of turn, dummy taking an active part, wasting high cards or absurd economy, a lack of logic in their play, the list is endless.

It is obvious that the little darlings have understood nothing, without you being able to do anything about it. In this case you need to make a pause in the progression and undertake a special session for those who are "going off the rails".

The principle will be to start from the beginning again by making them play three deals which they will deal themselves…..

First deal

It will be a question of a simple "Bridge battle": the children have sorted their cards and they spread them on the table. You decide that the dealer will play the hand. You will allow the complete freedom to speak, to comment and to choose the card to play, and allowing them to make self-correction of everything which is contrary to the normal playing of the hand. If, for example, you see a counter-attack from the wrong hand or an incongruous action, simply say: "error" or "I don't agree" and get them to correct themselves.

Second deal

Will shall move up to a higher level. You choose a player from each side to play with their cards hidden, the two others lay down their cards (so there are two dummies). Each side proposes making a certain number of tricks; the two partners can consult and, seeing three hands, can learn to deduce what is in the fourth hidden hand. You can see that this stage is more "difficult" than the preceding one.

Third deal

This will be the same s the preceding one, but with the difference that the players themselves will decide on the number of tricks, i.e. the size of the contract.

This extra session is only suggested to allow certain "slow-coaches" to rejoin the rest of the group. It will serve no purpose in the great majority of cases.

Pay particular attention to the benefit it will give to those who you will make do it. In particular do not impose it on pupils who don't need it. They will want to shine in front of their friends and the result will lead to one of the desired objectives, that is to remove all inhibitions.

For deal No 2, decide yourself how many tricks each side should make.
For deal No 3, check that the counting of the points is correct, be insistent on the correct carrying out of the bidding and put the person who leads on the right track.

Give no exercise or document for this session.