Adam's New Teaching Website:
About Adam
My books are available in eBook and paperback format from Bridge Winners Press.
I grew up in Cincinnati and currently live in New York City. I learned bridge from my grandmother and began playing seriously in college. I won the NABC+ Fast Pairs national championship at the 2022 Spring NABC in Reno and have several other top-ten finishes in open national events.
I have written five books (see below) and write a monthly column, "Parrish the Thought," for the ACBL Bridge Bulletin. I have published articles in The Bridge World and publish regularly on Bridge Winners.
I am currently the president of the Greater New York Bridge Association and am active in supporting youth bridge.
Bridge is a game, and above all is meant to be fun. This approach is the backbone of my teaching philosophy. It's very hard to learn when you're down on yourself, so I strive to keep things enjoyable and positive create an environment that fosters learning.
My focus is on logic and thought-process. Learning new conventions is fun, and there is plenty of value there. But knowing the system you already play and understanding the fundamentals of bidding and cardplay are significantly more important. So my teaching focuses more on declarer play, defense, and bidding fundamentals and less on exotic conventions. I want to be sure you not only know what the correct bid or play is, but why it is the correct thing to do.
Books
Teaching Philosphy
Adam Parrish
Services
bridge professional
playwright
2016 IBPA Book of the Year Finalist
I offer a variety of teaching services. I work hard to tailor a program to the specific needs of each student. I do one-on-one teaching, partnership coaching, small-group lessons, and large-group seminars. Most teaching these days is done online.
Playing Lessons
We all know that one of the best ways to get better at bridge is to play with someone better than you. It’s even better when that player is an excellent teacher. You can play with me at sectional,
regional, and national tournaments or at club games. We can also play in online games on BBO.
Individual Online Teaching
Individual online instruction is in my opinion it is the best way to learn and the best value. Lessons last between one and two hours. We talk on the phone as we play, so I can get a sense of your thought process and steer it in the right direction when it goes astray. Lessons can be general or can focus on a specific topic or convention with which you are struggling or we feel you could use some extra practice.
Partnership Coaching
The same online teaching format can be used for partnerships; many couples who play together regularly find this beneficial. You each get a little less personal attention this way, but you get the added benefit of working on your partnership. Partnership coaching is a great way for a regular partnership to sure up their agreements and work on their partnership. It is less about instruction than individual or group teaching; instead, we focus on your partnership, making sure your agreements are sound and thorough. We do not spend as much time on declarer play; our energy is focused on the partnership aspects of bidding and defense. I’m not here to make agreements for you: I will offer some suggestions, but ultimately my job it to ask questions and help you fill the holes in your system and agreements.
Seminars/Group Lessons
I teach seminars across the country and online on a variety of topics. They range from small groups of 4-8 people to much larger groups. I prefer a combination of lecture and play, with discussion of the boards as we play them. Seminars usually run around three hours, but can be tailored to suit the students’ needs.
2021 IBPA Book of the Year Finalist