Patti Lee and I would like to thank all of you for your very generous donations to Cambodia and Laos this spring and fall.
We have now raised over $58,000.00 for our five Cambodia schools and other outreach programmes in Cambodia and OVER $41,000.00 for Laos (Adopt A Village in Laos) for the purchase of water filters.
We are thrilled and cannot thank you enough. The money goes such a long way in these countries.
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WE NOW HAVE A SECURE SITE WHERE YOU CAN DONATE TO CAMBODIA and LAOS!
If you wish to donate differently than the ONLINE option, you can donate through:
Canadians: Email transfer to: akornel@sympatico.ca | Americans: Paypal is fine to above
OR FOR EVERYONE Check to: Barbara Seagram, 220 Lawrence Ave East, Toronto ON M4N 1T2 Canada
We are thrilled and cannot thank you enough. The money goes such a long way in these countries. If you have not yet donated, you may still do so: https://barbaraseagram.clickfunnels.com/cambodia-laos-donations
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TWO HOUR LIVE LESSONS Defensive Thinking & Strategy
- Lesson 1 - Wednesday, January 13 @ 4pm EST - Part 1
- Lesson 2 - Wednesday, January 20 @ 4pm EST - Part 2
Each lesson will be two hours long!
FULL access to the recordings for an unlimited time
You will receive a full set of notes after the class too!
If you are unable to attend the live class, you may purchase and watch anytime afterwards.
Classes will each have some guiding principles presented, followed by play of hand with commentary all the way.
Click here to purchase! ONLY $50.00 CAD (approx. $40.00 USD) total for both recordings. (i.e. $25.00 CAD each)

2021 WINTER CLASSES WITH JOSÉE ON ZOOM
BASICS BEGINNERS BRIDGE SERIES with Josée
- Tuesdays 11 am to 1 pm (EST) beginning on January 5th for 8 weeks
ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89796634744
Price: $240 CDN ($185 USD). Price includes taxes and Barbara Seagram Basic Bridge textbook. See below for payment instructions.
Learn the basic elements of the game of bridge: how to take tricks, how to work with a partner, how to open the bidding in a suit and in No Trump, how to respond, how to compete and more. Opportunities to play and practice online will be provided.
Lessons are recorded and can be watched on your own time.
INTERMEDIATE I BRIDGE SERIES with Josée
- Thursdays 4 to 6 pm (EST) beginning on January 7th for 7 weeks.
ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89796634744
Price: $210 CDN ($162 USD) Price includes taxes and Barbara Seagram Intermediate I textbook. See below for payment instructions.
For those who feel rusty and need a refresher and for those moving up from Basic lessons. Opportunities to play and practice online will be provided.
Lessons are recorded and can be watched on your own time.
INTERMEDIATE II BRIDGE SERIES with Josée
- Tuesdays 4 to 6 pm (EST) beginning on January 5th for 8 weeks
Price: $240 CDN ($185 USD) Price includes taxes and Barbara Seagram Intermediate II textbook. See below for payment instructions.
Weak Two Bids, Strong 2 Club Bids, Slam Bidding, Cue-Bidding First Round Controls, Preempts, Unusual NT, Michaels Cuebids, Opening Light in 3rd seat, Balancing, End Plays, Cross-Ruff, Loser-on-loser play, Introduction to defence, ...and MUCH more!!
Lessons are recorded and can be watched on your own time.
NEED EXTRA HELP? From Josee: After my lessons end at the end of October, I will have some limited availability to help you alone or you and your partner with some private coaching. Please email me at mjhammill@rogers.com with your requests. Please be as specific as you can be. e.g. partner and I want to work on our 2/1 auctions or could you come and watch partner and I play and provide feedback. This is not in lieu of all the offerings above! It is just a bit of extra help.
PRE-REGISTRATION FOR ALL CLASSES IS REQUIRED
Contact Josée preferably by email at mjhammill@rogers.com, indicating your choice of course or by phone at 416-300-9140
Canadians: Payment by etransfer to email address mjhammill@rogers.com
If you are uncomfortable with this approach, you can always mail me a cheque to my home:
Josee Hammill, 418-1717 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5M 0A2 Canada
For our American friends:
Unfortunately I am not set up for Paypal or cannot receive money through Zelle. It seems the only way is by way of cheque. So very sorry about this. Feel free to send one cheque for all the lessons you have taken after the series has ended.
PLEASE NOTE MY NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: barbaraseagram@gmail.com
UPDATE: Now Sold Out! We ARE taking names for a waitlist! Also, we do need one lady to share with someone whos is booked. If you know of anyone interested or wish to waitlist yourself, please contact Paola Shaw.
VANCOUVER TO TOKYO BRIDGE CRUISE NORTHERN PACIFIC CROSSING 19 NIGHTS ABOARD SHIP & 3 NIGHT STAYOVER POST CRUISE IN TOKYO
September 22 - October 14, 2021
The cruise in April 2020 was to be Barbara & Alex’s last escorted cruise but was cancelled. This cruise is the replacement cruise.
19 NIGHTS ABOARD SHIP & 3 NIGHT STAYOVER POST CRUISE IN TOKYO on the REGENT SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER, the most luxurious ship ever built WITH BARBARA SEAGRAM & ALEX KORNEL
ALL CABINS ON THIS SHIP ARE VERANDAH SUITES
- Sep 22 Wed Vancouver, British Columbia
- Sep 23 Thu Cruising the Inside Passage
- Sep 24 Fri Ketchikan, Alaska
- Sep 25 Sat Icy Strait (Hoonah) Alaska
- Sep 26 Sun Cruising Hubbard Glacier
- Sep 27 Mon Seward, Alaska
- Sep 28 Tue Kodiak, Alaska
- Sep 29 Wed Cruising Pacific Ocean
- Sep 30 Thu Dutch Harbor
- Oct 1 Fri Cruising the Pacific Ocean
- Oct 3 Sun Cross the International Date Line
- Oct 3 Sun Cruising the Pacific Ocean
- Oct 4 Mon Cruising the Pacific Ocean
- Oct 5 Tue Petropavlovsk, Russia
- Oct 6 Wed Cruising the Pacific Ocean
- Oct 7 Thu Cruising the Pacific Ocean
- Oct 8 Fri Hakodate, Japan
- Oct 9 Sat Sendai, Japan
- Oct 10 Sun Hitachinaka, Japan
- Oct 11 Mon Tokyo, Japan
- Oct 11-14 Stayover in Tokyo
*Currently Waitlisted
PRICES:
- $10,299.00 USD (NO Air) (Category G2) per person dbl. occ.
- $13,299.00 USD includes ALL Air & Bus class air from Japan
- $13,549.00 CDN (NO Air) (Category G2) per person dbl. occ.
- $17,449.00 CDN includes ALL Air & Bus class air from Japan
SPECIAL NEWS:
- FREE LAUNDRY SERVICE FOR ALL GUESTS (New Feature)
- Shipboard credit is $600.00 USD per cabin
- Deposits for the cruise are now reduced.
ALL Fares Include: 3 nts post-cruise in Tokyo (Currently waitlisted) or 2 nts pre in Vancouver, Free Business class Japan back to North America, Free economy air on domestic flights from most major airports to Vancouver, BC, Free transfers if air is booked with Regent, Free unlimited shore excursions, Free unlimited beverages including fine wines & premium spirits, Free pre-paid gratuities, All taxes / World class dining, Free specialty restaurants, Free unlimited wi-fi.
NOTE: Penthouse suites & higher: Free personal butler
UPDATE: We have 46 people booked to date on this wonderful ship. Everyone loves Regent and they are doing everything right. Do join us on this amazing adventure from Vancouver to Alaska, Russia and Japan.
Barbara is the author of 30 books, the most well-known being 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know.
Barbara & Alex will be escorting the group while aboard ship, teaching bridge and running bridge games. This is a private bridge programme.
Barbara & Alex are not working for the cruise line, only for the group.
You must book with Vision Travel in order to participate in our bridge program.
To BOOK this Vancouver to Tokyo Bridge Cruise please contact:
Paola Shaw at Vision Travel Georgetown
Phone: 905-873-8070 or toll free at 1-800-263-5575 #1228
Email paola.shaw@visiontravel.ca
To book any trip, contact PAOLA SHAW AT VISION TRAVEL paola.shaw@visiontravel.ca
Her telephone numbers are:905-873-8070 Toll-free: 1-800-263-5575 #1228
Paola is an excellent agent with years of experience.
Her attention to detail is legendary and she can help you with ANY trip you wish to go on.
 NEW!!! Planning the Defense by Barbara Seagram & David Bird
Ten years after their award-winning Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand, Seagram & Bird tackle the hardest part of the game: defense.
Using the same step-by-step approach, they guide the reader through the minefield of:
- signaling
- making a defensive plan and, above all
- counting - points, tricks and distribution.
Available at our school or at Lee's bridge club or Wayne's bridge club or at Stephen's bridge club or by contacting Barbara at


BARBARA'S NEW 26th BOOK
PLANNING THE PLAY: THE NEXT LEVEL by Barbara Seagram
Barbara's first book in this series (also co-authored by David Bird) won Book of the Year Award by the American Bridge Teachers' Association: Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand.
That first book introduced the basic concepts of how to go about making a plan as declarer for beginning and improving players, and is a popular text for bridge teachers. This sequel extends the plan to more complex situations, and covers ideas such as safety plays, avoidance play, trump control, dummy reversal, and endplays.
It will appeal to players who have a good grasp of the basics of declarer play and are looking to improve from there.
Books are available from:
- Lee or Wayne at their excellent Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and evening games at Temple Sinai Synagogue @ 210 Wilson Ave.
- Josee at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 2737 Bayview Ave on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- By email from Barbara
- You may pick up the books from us at a convenient address in North Toronto if you pre-arrange by email. We leave orders between our doors.

BARBARA'S
NEW BOOK
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT by Barbara Seagram
Over the years, readers have suggested that it would be an even better book if it offered some way to practice what they had learned. Now, here it is: Barbara's 25th book...a brief summary of each of those 25 conventions, together with example hands that can be dealt out and used to apply your new or brushed up knowledge.
It can be mailed to you or you can pick it up in Toronto.
Available by emailing Barbara at , or at Temple Sinai 210 Wilson Ave or at 2737 Bayview Ave on selected days only. It can be mailed to you or you can pick it up in Toronto!

NEW:
TWO OVER ONE TEXT BOOK by Barbara Seagram
Simply explains all you need to know about this system that has swept the world. Quizzes within will make you very comfortable with the system very quickly. And if you don’t play it, at the very least you should understand what your opponents are playing.
Available by emailing Barbara at
 Barbara Seagram's DOUBLES CHEAT SHEET
Takeout doubles, Negative Doubles, Support Doubles, Redoubles, Lead Directing Doubles, Lightner Doubles, Responsive Doubles, Penalty Doubles
Available in person at our Bridge Studio, or by email to
MY TWO OVER ONE CHEAT SHEET IS NOW OUT!Everything you need to know about this system, in a nutshell. Simply explained. Why you need to know the system that has swept North America by storm!
· What is the Forcing No Trump
· Questions to agree on with partner
· Recommended conventions you should consider playing
· Opener's rebid after Forcing 1NT
· Rebids by Responder after bidding Forcing 1NT
· Raising Partner's Major
· Tips to Help you Learn 2/1
· Semi-Forcing No Trump & an alternative approach
· Fourth Suit Forcing
· Quizzes And lots more!
Now available at Temple Sinai 210 Wilson Ave or at 2737 Bayview Ave on selected days only or email Barbara with your address & we will send it to you by postal mail,
If you don't have Barbara's other cheat sheets, we will be happy to send these out to you. Just send us your postal mailing address and we will send.
When you receive the package, have a look to see cost of postage on outside of packet. Send us a cheque for cost of the product and add the postage. Sorry but we do not take credit cards.
SPECIAL: BUY 4 CHEAT SHEETS: $40.00
or
ALL 5 CHEAT SHEETS: $48.00
Special Valid until January 31st, 2021

Email Barbara to ORDER: or CALL 416-487-8321
The Pocket Guide to Even More Bridge Conventions by Barbara Seagram & David BirdA summary of all the fancier conventions. A VERY useful summary in a nutshell. You will love it.
Available @ Temple Sinai 210 Wilson Ave or at 2737 Bayview Ave on selected days only, or by contacting Barbara @ 416-487-8321
or by email,

BARBARA SEAGRAM BRIDGE BOOKS
Which book will help YOU the most? 
- Books on Conventions: For Advanced, Beginners and Intermediate Players
- Books on Bidding, Playing and Defending at Bridge: For Beginners and Intermediate Players
- Quiz Books: For Beginners and Intermediate Players

Did You Know?
Barbara was in Cambodia February 14-24, 2015!
Watch the video as Barbara teaches English along with the A, B, C's, completing the lesson with a very energetic sung song to school children in Hin Pan & Phou Vien Villages, Luang Prabang District (Laos)
From March 1 - March 18, 2015 Barbara was on a river boat in Myanmar!

Canadian Kindness Felt in Faraway Cambodia |
 Most people in the bridge world know Barbara Seagram as one of the top teachers, a prolific author and an intrepid tour guide. What's not so well known is how far she will go to help her fellow mankind.
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About three years ago, Seagram and fellow tour guide Patti Lee discovered a need in Cambodia and went into action.
Today, they and their supporters sustain the operations of five schools in Phnom Penh area, paying for electricity, supplies (including computers) and the salaries of teachers and librarians.
Funds to help run the schools come from the bridge players of Canada. "We couldn't do it without them," says Lee, a retired IBM accountant executive who took up teaching and directing bridge after leaving the company. Continued... |
ZERO TOLERANCE
This article originally appeared in the January 2014 ACBL Bridge Bulletin. To join Am Contract Bridge League, email Barbara at
The ACBL is renewing the public education campaign initiated by Seagram, Cronin and Jacobs more than 15 years ago.
The theme, "Play nice," transposes two words we all like to hear at the table ("nice play!"). New posters have been developed and are being disseminated to all clubs.
Says Seagram, "I think that all players are responsible for policing this situation. When I call a director about a problem (perhaps at an adjacent table), I make a point of checking with the director later to see what penalty was awarded. If none was, the director gets to listen to me expound on the subject, and if that doesn't work, I then a) report the situation to ACBL and b) speak to the offender myself."
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