Williams Inn
July 9-13, 2012

The Bridge

• Classes every morning for intermediate and advanced players.
• Duplicate bridge every afternoon for ACBL masterpoints in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly players. We guarantee to find you a partner. Play as much or as little as you like.
•  Classes and/or duplicates every evening
• No grouches please!

The Teacher
Dennis Dawson is a Grand Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League, a National Champion, and a Bronze Medal winner at the World Championships. He has won more than 14,000 masterpoints and over 200 regional events.

To quote Eddie Kantar, member of the Bridge Hall of Fame, “I have worked with Dennis on several bridge seminars and have watched him in action teaching classes. He is an excellent teacher – very clear with just the right amount of humor. I was very impressed and glad to be sharing the spotlight with him.”

The Classes
Dennis teaches one class on a specific topic each morning for about 2½ hours. Usually the topic is defense, sometimes declarer play. The goal is to teach you how to think at the bridge table. You cannot play this game by memorizing a lot of rules! There are just too many exceptions, and in the heat of battle the rules you have so faithfully memorized often go flying out the window. Instead you need to learn how to analyze each situation logically, one step at a time, developing a process that you can use on every hand you play. This adds tremendously to your enjoyment of the game and to your confidence.

He speaks for about 15 to 30 minutes, then each table simultaneously plays pre-duplicated hands designed to illustrate the topic. When all the tables are done with each hand, everyone puts his or her cards face up on the table and we discuss the bidding, play, and defense. This leads to questions on many different aspects of the game.

These classes attract people with widely different levels of experience. The hands are challenging enough so that even very experienced players don’t get most of them right, but at the same time they are easy enough to explain so that even very new players can understand the thought process.

The Schedule

The Resort
The Williams Inn, one of the finest destination inns in New England, is located in the beautiful northern Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. The Inn has served the Williams College community since 1912. It prides itself on being the friendliest inn you will ever find. Visit the hotel’s website at www.williamsinn.com for more information

What to See and Do
The area is rich in culture—the world famous Clark Art Institute, Bennington Museum, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and much more. You can also visit the Norman Rockwell Museum or the Hancock Shaker Village, or indulge in factory outlet shopping in Lenox, MA or in Bennington or Manchester, VT.

The Price
$829 per person double occupancy, $1019 single occupancy. This includes a registration fee of $350 for all the bridge. It also includes four nights lodging, four breakfasts, three lunches, one dinner, a cocktail party, and all taxes and gratuities. You must stay at the hotel unless you live in the area. (Locals please email Dennis for price.) Questions? Email dennis@bridgevacations.com.
To register:
1)    Call 1-800-828-0133 for hotel reservations and say you are with the Dawson Bridge group.
2)   Send a check for $350 per person as a fully refundable registration fee to
Dawson’s Bridge Vacations
105 Michelle Dr
Santa Fe NM 87501

How to Get There
From Boston/ Mass Pike and points east (3 hours):
Follow Route 2 West all the way to Williamstown. The Williams Inn is on the right of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2. (3 hours)
-or-
Take the Massachusetts Turnpike West (I- 90) to Exit 2, (Lee/Lenox). Follow Route 20 West to Route 7 North. Continue on Route 7 North through Pittsfield, Lanesboro, New Ashford and into Williamstown. The Williams Inn is on the left of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2. (3.5 hours).
-or-
Take the Massachusetts Turnpike West (I-90) to (I-91) North and (I-91) North to Route 2 West. Route 2 West to Williamstown . As you follow Route 2 through Williamstown the Williams Inn is on the right of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2. (3.5 hours)

From Albany(Capital District) New York and points west (1 hour):
New York State Thruway to Route I-87 North to Exit 6, Route 2 East in Latham. Take Route 2 East through Troy and over the mountain and down into Williamstown. Turn left at the southerly junction of Routes 2 and 7. Continue two miles north. The Williams Inn is on the left of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2.

From New York City(3.5 hours):
Henry Hudson Parkway North (1st Exit) to Sawmill River Parkway North to Taconic State Parkway North towards Albany. Take the last exit before toll, a right onto Route 295 East (Chatham & East Chatham) and continue until you come to the junction of Route 22. Turn left on Route 22 North and proceed until you come to the junction of Route 43 (at traffic light). Turn right on Route 43 East and proceed until you come to the junction of Route 7 (blinking light). Turn left and continue on Route 7 North to Williamstown. The Williams Inn is on the left of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2.

From New Jersey:
Take the Garden State Parkway to the Taconic State Parkway North towards Albany. Take the last exit before toll, a right onto Route 295 East (Chatham & East Chatham) and continue until you come to the junction of Route 22. Turn left on Route 22 North and proceed until you come to the junction of Route 43 (at traffic light). Turn right on Route 43 East and proceed until you come to the junction of Route 7 (blinking light). Turn left and continue on Route 7 North to Williamstown. The Williams Inn is on the left of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2.

Connecticut:
Take Route 7 North from Danbury to Williamstown. The Williams Inn is on the left of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2.
-or-
Take Route 91 North to Massachusetts Turnpike West to Exit 2, (Lee/Lenox). Follow Route 20 West to Route 7 North to Williamstown. The Williams Inn is on the left of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2.
-or-
Take Route 91 North to Greenfield, and then take Route 2 West into Williamstown. The Williams Inn is on the right of the Village Green at northerly junction of Routes 7 and 2.