Finding a bridge instructor is easy. Finding a good one can be quite challenging. Here are some tips for finding a good instructor.

• Make sure that the instructor is teaching Modern Standard American. Although most instructors will be teaching this style of bridge, you may still find instructors who are teaching an older style. Note that Modern Standard American is hardly new since it embodies the standard bidding practices used by the best players over the last 15 years.

• Ask your friends who have taken bridge lessons. If they liked an instructor, there is a good chance that you will, as well.

• A good course requires two basic ingredients - good instruction and practice hands that exercise the material presented in the first half of the session. It takes a lot of time to prepare hands that exercise what you have learned in that session, but this is essential. Make sure your instructor will do this for each session. Playing randomly dealt hands will most likely not give you practice directly related to the instruction for the day.

• When you do find someone, call the instructor and ask about his or her course. You will find out details about the course (time, duration, location, contents, etc.), but, even more important, you will get some idea of their personality and manner of speech. Were they personable or stilted? Did they speak in a manner that you could clearly understand? Did they avoid the use of bridge jargon which might be new to you?

• If he or she passes the phone call test, ask to attend one session for free or for no more than the prorated cost for one session before you commit. A good, confidant instructor will welcome you to a class for one session on these terms. If you do like what you see and hear and decide to continue with the course, please do the right thing and pay for the initial session as well.

• This brings up the interesting question, "How much should a course cost?" First of all, you may be able to find a free course (probably a limited number of introductory sessions) at a local library or duplicate bridge club. This can be an excellent value, but don't forget to apply the tips above. Your time is valuable. Most bridge classes cost around $25 for a 1.5 hr. session. The student usually is expected to pay upfront for series of 6 or more lessons.

• If you do not have references from friends and cannot find an instructor who will let you preview the class, you can find a list of instructors near you at http://my.acbl.org/teachers/directory. Note, inclusion on this list means that the instructor has taken a class offered by the ACBL. It does not mean that they are an outstanding instructor. But if you have nothing else to go by, this is your best bet.