Hello Friend,

When I last wrote, I was preparing for Thanksgiving at the cottage. So much has happened since then, I hardly know where to begin.



The cottage holiday weekend was lively: I brought my older son’s two young daughters, met my younger son and his family, and celebrated the twins’ fourth birthday. In an effort to keep the kids safe, I made creative use of an extra-large dog crate (rest assured, they had food and water!). Of course, escape was inevitable — and one twin managed to step on a hornets’ nest. Thirty stings later, rushed to the hospital, only to have him declared perfectly fine and rewarded with a popsicle. That was Thanksgiving! 😊

Meanwhile, in Toronto, my daughter-in-law gave birth to a beautiful, healthy boy. He’s now officially named Robert Hayes Hammill, in memory of my late husband. You can imagine the tears when I received that call. I’ve already nicknamed him Wee Bobby, and he is simply perfect.

Since then, I’ve wrapped up fall lessons, made a quick trip to Quebec City for a funeral, and discovered my passport had gone missing. With a trip to St. Lucia looming, I had to declare it lost, pay the fees, and rush through the renewal process. The resort I’ll be visiting, Body Holiday, has the motto: “Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind.” The timing feels right, as I approach the six-month mark of Bob’s passing. Each day I’m closer to saying “I’m okay” — and truly meaning it. As always, I welcome your beach book recommendations!

🎥 Back on the Tournament Train

I recorded a short video (see below) at the Niagara Regional in St. Catharines — my first tournament in over five years! Before Covid, I spent years traveling with partners to out-of-town tournaments, and the energy at these events is unlike anything else: exciting, social, and yes, a little addictive.

With this in mind and on the topic of tournaments – consider these! 

For Newer Players

If you’re just starting out in bridge, tournaments can feel daunting. That’s why we’ve created a welcoming opportunity:

January 3rd, 8:30–8:50 a.m.

Barb Black and I will meet you in the lobby of the Sheraton Downtown Hotel. Together we’ll walk through registration, then head to the free lesson at 9:00 a.m., followed by a supervised game. You’ll be able to ask bidding questions — just like at our Thursday evening sessions — while enjoying a friendly, supportive environment.

It’s the easiest way to dip your toes into the tournament world. If this sounds appealing, email me to indicate your interest and I can also help with finding a partner ! 

For More Experienced Players

How about a week of sun, fun, and bridge in Barbados? This tournament offers unbeatable value: lodging, meals, drinks, and world-class bridge instruction all included — just USD $1225 for seven days. There’s even a separate room for Non-Life Masters (under 500 Masterpoints). Dates and details are further down in this newsletter, but don’t wait too long — it sells out quickly!

Winter Schedule ❄️

Barb Black and I are excited to roll out our winter lineup:

• Bridge Basics
• Intermediate 1
• Introduction to Declarer Play

These will be taught in person. If the sold-out fall classes are any indication, I recommend securing your spot early and encouraging friends to join without delay.

For those not local or who would prefer to learn online, I’ll also be teaching Intermediate 2 online this winter. Full descriptions and registration details are included below.



I’ll be in touch again just before the holidays. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of this newsletter, and never hesitate to send me your bridge questions.

Wishing a very happy Thanksgiving to all our friends in the USA.

P.S. Don’t hesitate to forward and share this email with friends who might want to be part of our bridge community! The more, the merrier! 🎉

Josée Hammill Bridge

2026 Winter Schedule

IN PERSON LESSONS

Location: Armour Heights Presbyterian Church, 105 Wilson Ave, Toronto

Basics Beginners Bridge Series

with Josée Hammill

 Discover Why Millions Around the World Are Captivated by This Game!

Ever wondered what all the excitement is about? Bridge is more than just a card game - it's a mental workout, a social adventure, and a lifelong passion all rolled into one! Whether you're looking to keep your mind sharp, make new friends, or simply try something intellectually stimulating, bridge offers it all.

Each lesson is hands-on, and fun! Emphasis will be on understanding the logic behind the decisions made at the table, not about memorizing all the rules. You'll be playing hands from your first real lesson. By the end of eight weeks, you won't just understand bridge - you'll be excited to play it with your new friends!

Enroll now to secure your spot, and let your bridge adventure begin!

DATES: Wednesday, January 7^th to February 25^th (8 weeks) – 10 am to 12 pm

PRICE: $289. Includes taxes, Barbara Seagram Basic Bridge textbook, PDF of PowerPoint presentations and online recordings.

Intermediate I (advanced beginners) Bridge Series – with Barb Black

Ready to Take Your Game from "I Know the Basics" to "I'm a Confident Player"?

You've learned the fundamentals, you understand the basic concepts, but somehow when you sit down at the table, things don't always click the way you hoped. Sound familiar? Maybe you learned bridge years ago, and the game has changed since then. Or perhaps you completed a beginners course, but still feel hesitant when it's your turn to bid or play.

Here's the thing: there's a world of difference between knowing the rules and truly understanding the game. That gap, that's where frustration lives. It's where you second-guess your bids, wonder if you're doing it "right," and sometimes feel like everyone else at the table knows something you don't.

This course is specially designed to close that gap!

If you're returning to bridge after a long hiatus, or you've recently completed a basic course and want to strengthen your foundation, this is where everything starts to make sense. Barb Black will help you move beyond just following rules to understanding WHY you make the bids you make, and ensure partner always understand clearly what you are describing.

Think of this as your bridge confidence-builder. By the end of seven weeks, you won't just be playing bridge - you'll be playing with authority, conviction, and real enjoyment. That's the change we're after!

DATES: Wednesday, January 7th to February 18th (7 weeks) – 1 to 3 pm

PRICE: $259. Includes taxes, Barbara Seagram Intermediate I textbook, PDF of PowerPoint presentations and online recordings.

Introduction to Declarer Play

with Barb Black

 This Is Your Moment to Become the Hero at the Bridge Table!

Imagine you and your partner have just bid your way to game. The auction was lively, the points lined up just right, and everyone at the table is paying attention. The opening lead hits the table, dummy comes down, and every eye shifts to YOU. This is your moment - your chance to prove you're not just a good bidder, but a skilled player!

Bidding gets you to the contract, but declarer play is what brings it home. You can hold great cards and bid like a pro, yet without solid declarer technique those makeable contracts can slip away. Few things sting more than going down when you had the tools to succeed.

This is the difference between casual players and strong competitors. This is what earns respect at the table. This is what makes bridge so compelling.

Join Barb Black for this dynamic 4-week course based on Eddie Kantar's Introduction to Declarer Play. This course is particularly great if you're a newcomer eager to master the fundamentals but will also help any advancing playing solidify playing techniques. You'll learn counting your losers or your winners depending on the final contract, reading the meaning behind the opening lead, planning your strategy before playing to trick one, when to pull trump or postpone this, the art of finessing, establishing long suits, and so much more!

Don't let another contract slip away because you didn't have the tools to make it. Sign up now and become the declarer everyone wants to watch in action!

DATES: Thursday, January 29th to February 19th (4 weeks) – 10 am to 12 pm

PRICE: $189. Includes taxes, Eddie Kantar's Book Introduction to Declarer Play -- New edition revised by Barbara Seagram, PDF of PowerPoint presentations and additional supporting documents.

ONLINE ZOOM LESSONS

Intermediate II Bridge Series

with Josée Hammill 

Ready to Play Your Most Strategic Game?

You've got the basics down. Your bidding foundation is solid. You can bid and play a decent hand. But you know there's more to bridge - you see it when you watch experienced players at the table. They seem to know easily how to look for slam, what convention to use, how to interfere in the bidding by showing some very distributional hand (5-5 or 6-5), when and how high to preempt, or counteract a preempt when made against them. That’s only in the bidding. Then you see them as declarer, and again watch a level of sophistication that you haven’t been exposed to. You know how to count your losers and winners. You know when to ruff in the dummy, or how to find extra winners in the dummy. Need to establish a suit, you have done that and yes you also understand when and how to take a finesse. But you’ve heard about a cross ruff. Do you really know what ingredients we need to do one? What about the `sexy` Strip and Throw in Play or the Loser on Loser play.

That could be you!

This 8-week course introduces some more strategic bidding tools, as well as exposes you to more sophisticated declarer play techniques. You'll learn competitive bidding weapons like Unusual Notrump and Michaels Cuebids that give you power in the auction. You will refine your slam bidding techniques with the use of Roman Key Card Blackwood and Control cuebids. You'll discover declarer play techniques like cross-ruffs, loser-on-loser plays that allow you to make your contract when all hope seemed lost. And much more! 

Perfect for: Players who feel they have the basic bidding and playing foundation, and are ready to take their game to the next level.

DATES: Wednesday, January 7th to February 25th (8 weeks) – 4:00 to 5:30 pm – Live on Zoom with full recordings available.    

PRICE: $289. Includes taxes, Barbara Seagram Intermediate II textbook, PDF of PowerPoint presentations and online recordings. Add $7 if book needs to be mailed.

Book Pickup: Available at 1717 Avenue Road, Suite 418, Toronto (two weeks before class starts) or by mail (add $7 postage, allow 2 weeks for delivery).

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR ALL CLASSES IS REQUIRED

To register, please contact Josée at mjhammill@rogers.com.

For any questions, feel free to reach out via email or call 416-300-9140.

Payment: Send by etransfer or PayPal to mjhammill@rogers.com or by cheque mailed to 1717 Avenue Road, Suite 418, Toronto, Ontario, M5M0A2. 

HOLIDAY PAUSE – GENTLE BRIDGE NIGHTS

A quick heads-up: Our Gentle Bridge evenings will take a short break for the holidays.

Novice Gentle Bridge

Final 2025 Game: Wednesday December 10^th

Resumes: January 7^th.

Beginner Gentle Bridge

Final 2025 game: Thursday December 11^th

Resumes: January 8^th.

We look forward to seeing everyone back at the table in the new year! 

TORONTO WINTER NON-LIFE MASTER REGIONAL

If you’re new to duplicate bridge or just starting to collect masterpoints, this event is made for you. Designed especially for players with 0–20 masterpoints, our tournament offers a relaxed, supportive atmosphere where learning is encouraged and fun is guaranteed.

Saturday, January 3, 2026

FREE Beginner Lesson: 9:00–9:40 AM (Meet Josée and Barb Black in the lobby between 8:30 and 8:50 AM. )

0–20 Supervised Pairs: 10:00 AM

This supervised game allows you to ask bidding questions during play—perfect for new tournament players!

You’ll meet other newcomers, gain valuable experience, and enjoy the excitement of a real bridge competition, without the pressure of facing seasoned experts. Whether you’ve just finished your first lessons or are dipping your toes into tournament play, come join us! Bring a partner or reach out and we’ll help you find one.

Discover why so many people fall in love with this wonderful game. See below the flyer with the full schedule.

An Unforgettable Bridge Adventure in 2026!

Ready to escape the cold next winter? Here are one exciting opportunities from Barbara Seagram, to combine your love of bridge with sun, sea, and incredible memories!

Barbados Bridge Tournament – Feb 2026

Spend a week in paradise! This ACBL Sectional offers a friendly, fun, and relaxed atmosphere—perfect for players of all levels. There's even a separate room just for 0–500 masterpoint players—a lovely group you’ll feel right at home with. Enjoy all-inclusive accommodation, beach access, daily games, and warm Caribbean hospitality on Barbara's home island.