About Erdem Öztürk
Professional Bridge Teacher & Senior Instructor
Based in Istanbul, Turkey, Erdem Öztürk has dedicated his entire professional career to teaching contract bridge. Through live interactive sessions on Zoom and Bridge Base Online (BBO), he works with bridge enthusiasts and tournament players across Europe, North America, and worldwide.
The Journey: From University to the National Squad
Erdem was introduced to the beauty and depth of contract bridge in 2002 while pursuing his studies at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ / METU) in Ankara, one of Turkey's leading scientific and engineering universities. What began as a university club passion rapidly became a lifelong intellectual dedication.
Recognizing the profound cognitive and social richness of the game, Erdem turned to full-time bridge education in 2009. Over the past 17+ years, he has designed comprehensive curricula covering the entire spectrum of bridge—from complete beginners learning their first suit hierarchy to competitive tournament pairs polishing advanced signaling and slam techniques.
@erdembridge sharing weekly deal analysis and bidding tutorials.
Teaching Philosophy & Classroom Approach
Too many bridge courses treat the game as an exercise in rote memorization, burdening students with endless lists of rules without explaining the mathematical logic behind them. Erdem's teaching methodology is built on three fundamental principles:
1. Understanding Over Memorization
Every convention and defensive signal exists for a clear logical reason. When you understand why a bid is made, you don't need to memorize arbitrary tables—you can deduce the correct bid naturally at the table.
2. Active Table Play on BBO
Passive listening does not build table instincts. During lessons, we sit at a private Bridge Base Online (BBO) teaching table with voice connection via Zoom. You play pre-prepared deals designed specifically to highlight the lesson's core concept, testing your decisions in real time.
3. Tailored to Your Specific Goals
Whether you are preparing for your first club duplicate game, seeking to modernize your system to 2/1 Game Forcing with your favorite partner, or aiming to tighten your defense, each curriculum is shaped around your current standard and personal targets.
Courses & Social Channels
You can explore Erdem's teaching style and sample content across various educational platforms:
- Udemy: Learn to Play Bridge (English Video Course) — A complete beginner-to-intermediate video curriculum.
- YouTube: @erdembridge — Analytical bridge hands, declarer play puzzles, and bidding breakdowns.
- Instagram: @bricdersi — Visual bridge problems, quotes, and community updates.
Start Your Lessons with Erdem
Flexible lesson schedules available across European, UK, and North American time zones. Reach out to discuss your current playing level and design your personalized lesson plan.