Afleveringen
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Today, we're debuting a new format called Event Review, where my partner and I get together and discuss some of the most amusing incidents and some of the best and worst plays from a recent event. It's going to be shorter than my typical long-form interview and also, hopefully, just kind of fun.
I'm speaking with my partner for the District 6 Grand National Teams Qualifying sessions, Sophia Baldysz, a champion player from Poland with many medals in world events, and also my teammate from the 2023 NABC+ Mixed Swiss.
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Episode 73: Rise and Fly! Lamont Jones and The Gist of Bid Whist
Normally, this is a Bridge podcast, but today my guest is Bid Whist evangelist Lamont Jones. Lamont recently published the book called The Gist of Bid Whist culminating a project he began in earnest in 2012. He's on a mission to share his love for Bid Whist with a wider audience.
If you've ever been curious about Bid Whist, as I have been recently, Lamont and I go through a lot of the differences as well as the similarities between Bid Whist and Bridge. One of the things we don't have in Bridge is trash talk, and that seems to be a huge part of the Bid Whist culture. Whether it's trash-talking about taking your opponents to Boston or telling them to rise and fly, I definitely think Bid Whist has Bridge beat when it comes to talking smack.
I could not believe when I read in The Gist of Bid Whist that none other than Bob Hamman said, "Bid Whist is more complex than Bridge." My question to you as a listener, is that a good thing? Overall I've just found Lamont to be a super positive, delightful person, and I'll hope you enjoy engaging with him as I did.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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John shares his experience of being hired to play bridge professionally for the first time. He talks about meeting and playing with a new partner and the challenges they faced. He also discusses the pressure and self-consciousness he felt as a bridge pro and how he overcame it to improve his performance and gain confidence.
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Today’s guest is Denmark's Morten Bilde. In addition to being a world-class bridge player with a win and a second in the U.S. Vanderbilt, Morten left his day job in 2015 to focus on getting bridge in the schools in Denmark. Stay tuned to find out why Morten says that's the best job he's ever had, as well as what the challenges are in that undertaking. Morten and his wife, Dorte met through bridge and their son, Dennis, is a real bridge superstar.
The three of them teamed up at the recent Icelandic Bridge Festival and won the team event for both the festival and the World Bridge Tour event, which preceded it. Those of you with children might be interested to learn how Morten approached teaching Dennis the game. If you've got a passion for introducing youth to bridge like I do, then Morten is your guy. He's happy to answer any of your questions, and he gives his email address towards the end of our conversation. Please enjoy my conversation with Morten Bilde.
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My guest today is Matthew Brown. Matt has been my partner for the last two North American Bridge Championships and for the upcoming March NABC in Louisville.
Matt’s partnership with Michael Whibley on team New Zealand has pulled off some big time wins and upsets. Stay tuned to hear how they went from zero to being one of the best pairs in the world.
As his partner, I’m happy to put down the dummy for Matt to play. As his teammate, I’m delighted for him to be playing a difficult contract.
See if you can see why I think our temperaments are quite different.
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The Setting Trick
Episode 68
Game On – The Card Game Bridge Needs More People Like Steve Raine
John McAllister talks with Steve Raine, a bridge player, vlogger and gaming café owner who
lives in Nottingham, England. His video blogs about attending bridge tournaments and
subsequent board review have earned him fans across the globe.
You’re going to want to stick around to hear the new end-of-show question as suggested by
Steve’s partner at the Atlanta NABC, Adam Hickman, aka Gizzy. We’re planning on making it a
staple of the show going forward. Listen to Steve’s surprising and inspiring answer. Hint: it
wasn’t about himself! -
The North American Bridge Championships are truly an experience that brings people together. Walt Shafer, who runs an eponymous, invitation-only game online, hosted a party for the participants at the Atlanta NABC. John, who plays in the game, attended and met Bonnie Gellas, who was there because her partner, Erez Hendelman, plays in the game. The two hit it off and now Bonnie, who is a bridge teacher, is a guest on the show.
Bonnie lives in NYC and is responsible for teaching bridge to hundreds of players.
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Alex Kolesnik: Bridge Dad +
Move over, Soccer Moms, there’s a new game in town. Alex Kolesnik and his wife, Sharon Beynon, are California-based professors who play bridge. Somehow, they got both of their children interested in playing bridge too. Now ages 25 and 19, Emma and Finn are top-ranked players.
Alex, a Platinum Life Master, describes his journey as a husband, professor, player and father, encouraging his kids in all their endeavors, maintaining balance and keeping perspective.
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The Setting Trick
Episode 65: Nathan Gong – A Junior Ambassador for New Bridge Players
Seattle-area teenager Nathan Gong has distinguished himself as an excellent bridge player at regionals, NABCs, and, this summer, his first World Youth Championships. He’s also getting noticed as a teacher, having started bridge clubs in middle and high school. With his family and the support of the bridge-playing community, Nathan has helped to teach and mentor a group of kids – and even get some of their parents to learn bridge.
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Amber Lin has already achieved a lifetime of success at age 26. A national champion and two-time world champion medalist (including gold in Morocco just a few weeks ago), Amber has found the time to develop as a bridge player, mentor and coach others, intern with the ACBL Educational Foundation, and work full-time as an energy consultant at Bain & Company. Listen to Amber’s amazing trajectory via the USBF Junior Training Program and the benefits of mentorship and learning together with friends.
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TST Episode 63: Katie Sullivan is not pumping the brakes
Katie Sullivan, as a second-year student at the University of Virginia, has infused her love of bridge with her college experience, starting an officially recognized student organization and recruiting other college kids into competitive bridge. Hear about her meteoric rise in the game and her plans for UVA world domination.
3:47 “Chalk it up” – how creative marketing got Katie needed contacts to create a bridge club.
10:50 Obtaining CIO status and how the club fair was a game-changer.
12:26 Trumpet players and bridge. Who knew?
17:09 Hoos Playing Bridge on Instagram.
18:50 Trying to teach the fundamentals, struggling with supplies. Creating slide presentations.
28:21 A shout-out to any UVA alumni who might want to help. Many students have branched out to playing sanctioned events at clubs. Katie is proud.
32:51 Katie, in her first year of college at Amherst, meets Michael Xu.
38:41 Recovering from a painful misbid by partner.
49:06 After success at the World Youth Teams Championships, Katie plans to get “seriously serious.”
53:40 Loving the postmortem.
1:05 Katie encourages all youth bridge players to plan on attending UVA when it’s time for college.
Katie’s article on Bridge Winners about starting a bridge club at college.
Hoos Playing Bridge on Instagram.
Katie’s first BW post: a love letter.
Katie in the New Orleans NABC Daily Bulletin.
Like cards? Play bridge!
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The Setting Trick
Episode 62: Patty Tucker, Youthful Enthusiast.
Patty Tucker might be responsible for creating more new bridge players than anyone on the planet. From developing teaching materials and running a non-profit to her new endeavor - getting bridge to be part of the curriculum in schools - Patty channels her love of the game into energy to keep it alive.
How bridge changed Patty’s life at age 11, finding her niche.
The origin of Atlanta Junior Bridge, how the camps became the Youth NABC.
The challenges of school systems and connecting with teachers.
A teacher in Lebanon KY inspired Patty’s new endeavor, Jump Start Bridge, resulting in 40 kids learning bridge via an afterschool program.
Patty’s amazement at the lack of knowledge of what bridge is; finding a way to spread the word via conferences, including the International Society for Technology and Education, which included tech giants like Microsoft and Google, reaching over 12,000 attendees and raising visibility.
Patty keeps learning: What to do differently for future conferences.
On feeling overwhelmed or “out of her element” with the enormity of the tasks of marketing her plan.
Don’t tell Patty, “It can’t be done.”
How bridge can connect people, creating lifelong friendships, even if you only see one another three times a year at NABCs. Kids deserve that too.
Patty’s three wishes (OK, only two).
How Patty learned to play bridge, and a story of a defining moment in her bridge life.
Why John will never be Goodwill Member of the Year.
Patty’s legacy.
How not everyone is cut out to be a bridge teacher.
Patty’s third wish.
Patty’s pre-game ritual and advice.
Links:
Atlanta Junior Bridge
https://atlantajuniorbridge.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFmp595UdNs
Jump Start Bridge
https://atlantajuniorbridge.org/jumpstart/
The Power of Bridge in Schools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J8A-za2Wpc
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The Setting Trick
Episode 61: Sartaj Hans Keeps Getting Better
This week's guest is many-time Australian national champion Sartaj Hans. Originally from India, Sartaj has several high finishes in NABC events, including making the semifinal of the recent Spingold Knockout Teams in Chicago, where he played four-handed with partner Andy Hung and teammates Nabil Edgtton and Michael Whibley.
John had his first big knockout match win in the 2014 Spingold teaming with Sartaj to beat the then 7th- seeded Cayne team.
Sartaj’s book, Battling the Best, won the 2107 IBPA Book of the Year award. He also won the declarer play of the year in 2019. On top of all that, he has a successful career and is married to fellow tournament bridge player Sophie Ashton; they have two young daughters.
Sartaj discusses the psychology of bridge and how belief can make you a better player.
The need for developing a way to categorize bridge mistakes because bridge problems have so much variance.
Why postmortems are “rubbish.”
Sartaj hits upon a hot-button issue: playing top-level events on computers.
A couple of book recommendations from Sartaj.
Sartaj’s belief that focusing too much on system in a casual partnership is not effective.
In bridge, everyone has a chance to win.
Working on improving and how even experts have coaches and mentors.
Finally, Sartaj philosophizes on enjoying the process.
Read Sartaj’s post on Bridge Winners about playing on tablets:
https://bridgewinners.com/article/view/the-case-for-tablets/
Sartaj Hans’ book, Battling the Best:
https://www.baronbarclay.com/battling-the-best/
Sartaj Hans wins Declarer Play of the Year:
https://www.abf.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2020_IBPA_Declarer_Play_of_the_Year.pdf
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This week's episode of the Setting Trick podcast features Tom Hanlon, an accomplished bridge player with a remarkable track record in the game. One of his favorite bridge memories is winning the European Silver Medal in 2006, a significant achievement that highlights his skill and dedication. Tom has formed a strong partnership with Hugh McGann, a regular bridge partner who shares his passion for the game. Together, they have built a successful collaboration, leveraging their skills and strategic thinking to achieve notable results. Overall, Tom Hanlon's bridge journey is marked by his passion for the game and consistent pursuit of excellence continues to make him a respected figure in the bridge world.
During today's discussion, Tom talks about the global bridge discussions, where he exchanges ideas, shares insights, and collaborates with players worldwide. Also, Tom navigates the trials of decision-making and shares valuable insights into compelling gameplay. Tom shares his experiences to gain a deeper understanding of the strategic elements that drive success in the game.
Moreover, Tom reflects on his favorite tournament experiences, reliving triumphs, challenges, and personal growth moments. Lastly, discover the power of friendship and partnership as Tom celebrates many years of collaboration with his trusted bridge companion.
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The Setting Trick
Episode 58
Olivia Schireson - Next Gen
Olivia and John talk about how they met and the opportunity to play on a last-minute team together at the Providence NABC.
Olivia’s mantra, “the two C’s,” confidence (and competence) – “never play bridge scared.”
The Cinderella Mixed Team at the US Team Trials.
Bay Area Junior Bridge, the Rosenbergs, Will Watson, rooting for friends.
Getting the best out of oneself.
John and Olivia discuss having their plays written up on Bridge Winners.
Playing “What Are The Odds” at the World Championships in Poland.
Can you guess Olivia’s favorite dance move?
Plans for the future. Starbucks?
More US Trials.
The best dad ever.
Olivia’s brother and the case of the mistaken identity.
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Today, my guest is Selena Pepić. She is a computer science graduate from ETH Zurich, a rates trader at JP Morgan in Paris, and a member of the Serbian national mixed, women's, and junior teams. She won the gold medal at the World Youth Open Championship in Opatija 2015 (girls U26), the bronze medal at the World University Championship in Lodz in 2016, and also won an event at the Junior World Championship in 2016. Join us as we talk about Selena’s background, playing bridge in Paris, her thoughts on the American bridge community, winning women’s events, and more.
[04.11] Missing bridge – Selena shares the reason behind quitting bridge for 2 years at university.
[21.03] Problems – Selena shares why she loves talking about bidding problems in bridge playing.
[25.10] First partner – We talk about the relationship between Selena and her first partner Giovanni.
[47.19] Playing blackjack – Selena dives into the story of playing blackjack for the first time.
[1:01.19] Novi Sad Bridge Festival – We talk about the Novi Sad Bridge festival happening between April 28th to May 2nd of 2023.
Resources
Connect with Selena
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/selena-pepic/
bridgewinners.com/profile/selena-pepic/
bridgescanner.com/event/novi-sad-bridge-festival-2023
web.facebook.com/novisadbridge/
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Today, my guest is Selena Pepić. She is a computer science graduate from ETH Zurich, a rates trader at JP Morgan in Paris, and a member of the Serbian national mixed, women's, and junior teams. She won the gold medal at the World Youth Open Championship in Opatija 2015 (girls U26), the bronze medal at the World University Championship in Lodz in 2016, and also won an event at the Junior World Championship in 2016. Join us as we talk about Selena’s background, playing bridge in Paris, her thoughts on the American bridge community, winning women’s events, and more.
[04.08] Selena’s background – We start the conversation with a brief bio about Selena and her first junior world bridge championship in 2016.
[10.27] Bridge in Paris – Selena talks about playing bridge in Paris and how the division system works.
[20.51] American Sponsor – Selena shares the story of how she met Steve, her American sponsor.
[23.37] Expectations – Selena’s thoughts on the American bridge community as national champions
[31.55] Women’s Event – We talk about Selena’s thoughts on winning a women’s event in New Orleans.
[35.20] Professional Events – Selena talks about the professional bridge events & culture in Europe before the USA
[41.13] Playing with Family & Friends – Selena talks about how she played card games with her grandparents and later with high school friends.
[50.09] Catan – A multiplayer board game
ResourcesConnect with Selena
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/selena-pepic/
bridgewinners.com/profile/selena-pepic/
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