play better bridge: your home for online lessons

I have done everything there is to do in bridge, but teaching the game is my passion. I was introduced to tournament bridge at five years old. I soon began caddying at local tournaments until one fateful day when the tournament officials needed a fill-in. I played with one of them and we won. That was the last day I caddied; I dove into studying every book about bridge I could find. I started teaching bridge lessons in high school and began competing on the tournament circuit after graduation, even though I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up—except that I wanted to play bridge.

As I pursued my education, I worked as a tournament director throughout undergraduate studies and law school. After trying my hand at practicing law for a few years, the allure of the bridge world pulled me back. In 2002, I bid farewell to law and resumed teaching bridge from my home. What began as a small project soon expanded into an office building nearby, leading to the creation of the Bridge Academy of North Dallas (BAND). This became my teaching oasis, where I developed a comprehensive curriculum that covers everything from introductory bridge lessons to the most intricate strategies of the game. When the pandemic hit, BAND pivoted to the online space and transformed into BAND Online. Now, as we celebrate 15 years of duplicate games and bridge lessons, we proudly stand as one of the largest virtual bridge clubs in the country.

Over the years, my other bridge projects have included serving as an editor and publisher for a bridge newspaper and magazine, being the NABC Child Care Coordinator for 20 years, and taking on roles as District Board Secretary and Tournament Chairman, all while being recognized as an award-winning journalist. On the competition side, I achieved my first national win at the 2003 Long Beach NABC. In 2010, my partner and I triumphed over 420 pairs to win the World Mixed Pairs at the Philadelphia World Championships. Additionally, as a non-playing captain at the World Level, my teams brought home 6 medals—including 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze.

While my bridge success has been thrilling, my true passion lies in teaching. To continue sharing my love for the game, I've moved my classroom lessons online! Finding a way to integrate teaching into my life became essential, especially as in-person classes were no longer feasible. I am thrilled to utilize great tools like Shark Bridge, which allows us to learn effectively through the computer.

Play Better Bridge is where I now fulfill my teaching passion, and I hope it becomes your go-to destination for online bridge lessons. As you engage with the video workshops and seminars, don’t hesitate to reach out with your questions—think of me as your personal virtual bridge coach. We also host a mini lesson via Zoom every weekday morning at 9:45 AM Central Time. Join PBB Online Lessons, and together we can elevate your bridge game to new heights. My personal email is donna@playbetterbridge.com.

Let's play some bridge!

Donna

"I love being part of Donna's virtual bridge club. Her bridge lessons help me understand the strategies behind my plays at the tournament bridge table, and she also explains the importance of certain additional aspects of the game. Please join us!" -Barbara

"Your workshop was fantastic. I received much value and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was delighted that you obviously spent a great deal of time on the presentation – the graphics were superb, enhancing the overall experience of the virtual bridge club!" -Steve