The Setting Trick: Conversations with World Class Bridge Players

Latest Episodes:

33. Albert Bender - Taking the Game to Kids Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

Al Bender is an extraordinarily dedicated teacher for Bridge For Youth, a nonprofit organization that promotes youth bridge in the Seattle area. After the pandemic struck, Bridge For Youth and Al switched from a face-to-face teaching model to solely virtual instruction. He caught my attention through this Bridge Winners article on the benefits of teaching online. To say the article brightened my day would be a massive underbid. Read it!

The most important takeaway from Al's experience is that virtual instruction is an incredibly effective teaching model. We want to see this model duplicated across the country!

Episode Highlights:

2:20- The many flaws of teaching face-to-face

4:25- Advantages to virtual teaching

5:05- Bridge For Youth's journey in learning how to teach online

7:55- How Bridge For Youth got a staggering 110 students

9:50- Interesting gender discrepancy

12:40- The power of the Shark Teaching Console

"I no longer have to watch my partner make stupid mistakes"

16:10- Testmoz and the allure of competition

18:55- A serendipitous success

20:40- The dedicated student

23:40- Summer camp will be taught by former Setting Trick guest, Tom Carmichael

25:35- Collaboration to on youth tournaments

29:20- SharkBridge is free for teachers who teach youth bridge for free

30:05- Teachers must be good with youths

32:10- Bridge For Youth is in search for teachers!

37:50- The important thing is having FUN!

40:35- A big weakness is the lack of social interactions when using Shark Bridge

45:00- Al warns you to not use the word "kid"

47:00- Al wants to make a difference in his students' life

32. Greg Hinze - This Dude Abides Mar 12, 2021

Show notes

Meet Greg Hinze: Three time North American Bridge Champion, world champion and he also has a world class sense of humor! After first hearing there was such a thing as a professional bridge player, Greg made it his five year goal. He played a lot, read lots of books, practically went broke and now is a highly desired pro.

Episode Highlights:

1:35- How Greg first decided to pursue his goal of becoming a professional

3:15- How Greg got hooked onto bridge

6:10- Greg and his poker job

7:55- How Greg quickly improved into an expert

9:40- Live bridge and RealBridge

12:50- Greg's favorite event

15:20- Reject those who rejected you

18:50- Strong club vs natural system

21:45- Greg's 2D opening system

24:10- Winning a world championship on a team formed the night before the event

26:50- Greg, his wife, and fun midnight knockout deal

29:30- Broke North American champion

31:35- An interesting strategy to pick between two close calls and a happy accident

35:20- His prediction on the future of live bridge

40:50- "Swiss Master" ~ Justin Lall

43:55- Bridge connects

48:30- Greg's biggest bridge tip

31. Youngest Life Master: Adam Kaplan and Richard Jeng Feb 28, 2021

Show notes

At the age of 10 years and 43 days Adam Kaplan set the record as the American Contract Bridge League's youngest ever life master. A subsequent article in the ACBL Bridge Bulletin, commemorating Adam's achievement, inspired his successor Richard Jeng who broke Adam's record with ease at the age of 9 years, 6 months, and 12 days.

Both Richard and Adam are members of the USA1 Under 21 team whose journey in the 14th World Youth Team Championships we chronicle in Double Dummy. A film which Adam largely inspired. Here are two brief conversations about Richard and Adam's quest to become the youngest life master and what the title meant to them.

2:16- The event where Adam won his last needed masterpoints

4:04- Two club games per day—the dedication needed to get those masterpoints

6:39- The fame ensuing after his achievement

7:46- What the achievement means to him

9:14- "I was a terrible partner" ~ Adam

12:14- Adam's current level of bridge involvement

14:04- The story behind Adam's nickname

15:39- Adam's partner in Double Dummy

19:54- An optimistic grand bid by Adam

24:09- Adam's current career plans

26:30- Richard's first reaction on hearing about Andrew Chen's achievement

27:05- How Richard first started playing bridge

28:40- Richard's inspiration on becoming the Youngest Life Master

29:50- Richard's meeting up with the teen whose record he planned on beating

30:35- This record is meant to be broken!

31:35- Life Master is a title given only to those who mastered life

31:55- The event where Richard won his last needed master points

30. YLM: Andrew Chen - The Current Titleholder Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

Our latest guest, Andrew Chen, is our youngest ever, by a lot! 8-year old Andrew is the ACBL's youngest ever Life Master, a feat many spend decades striving for. In May 2020, Andrew, at the age of eight years and three days, smashed the previous record holder's mark by more than a year. He also was the first to set the record since the requirements for being a Life Master moved from three hundred to five hundred Masterpoints.

All four members of Andrew's immediate family, his mother Sarah, his brother Charlie and his father Steve, are bridge players. He is also a product of Silicon Valley Youth Bridge, whose pizza parties are helping introduce many young people to the game. Steve also joins us, to whom Andrew gives a lot of credit for his amazing achievement.

Episode Highlights:

1:40- Andrew's favorite bridge player—and no, it's not his dad :)

4:20- Andrew enjoys punishing his opponents

6:43- How Andrew decided to pursue the youngest Life Master title

9:15- The players who helped Andrew in obtaining the title

12:35- A glimpse into Andrew's bidding system

14:34- Andrew the ambassador

16:35- How Andrew's parents met

17:05- How Andrew's family plays bridge.

19:15- Andrew doesn't neglect his reading

20:43- Video games that Andrew enjoy playing

22:35- Andrew's height

25:08- Andrew as the narrator for Double Dummy???

27:45- Andrew's language fluencies

29. Ron Smith - Has More Stories Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Didn't get enough of Ronnie? He's back! Ron Smith returns to the show, bringing with him more hilarious stories.

Episode Highlights:

6:05- Ron's opinion on Real Bridge

12:30- When your teammates go for minus 4600 in 4Cxx down 8 so you lose 24 IMPS, but you still win the match

15:35- Ron learns from his teacher who went minus 5800.Twice

16:05- Story of the only person to win the Vanderbilt while also losing two matches in the same tournament

18:30- Never give up during a match

25:05- Bobby Levin is so good looking, his partner needs to play with his head down lest he loses his focus

28:40- More hilarious Baby Levin stories

34:40- Ron believes in the great joys of having the social connections through playing bridge

38:10- Speculations on the future of bridge—will things ever be the same again?

40:15- Mahaffrey stories

44:35- Peter Weichsel's most embarrassing moment

47:15- Reese stories

53:05- Ron's worst three hands

59:48- Leo Lasota: the world's greatest online player

1:03:05- Oren Kriegel is an upcoming super star

1:06:35- "Here comes the damn diamonds again" story

28. Ron Smith - Is Funny! Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

Among US Juniors, few adults' names are as well-recognized as Ron Smith. But don't let his title of "Honorary Junior" fool you; Ron began playing bridge back in the Roth Stone era, when he only would open the bidding with 14 points—3 points more than what he needs to open today. A true perennial all-star, Ron stands out for his work in fostering the rising young stars of our game. He's also a pretty entertaining and genuinely good natured fellow.

Episode Highlights:

1:50- Ron's mother used to think he was going to hell for playing bridge

3:40- Ron's sister = ultimate bridge wing-woman

5:15- How Ron became hooked on bridge

12:05- Seymon Deutsch could get away with anything

16:00- The legend of Zia Mahmood

21:30- "I've got a partner for you" = Bobby Levin

23:00- Don't cheat

32:20- Al Roth Stoned

36:55- A Justin Lall story

40:50- Ron + Juniors = win Midnight Zip KO

42:40- Ron is an honorary junior

44:30- How to get Bobby Levin to agree with your bidding

48:30- Bob Hamman's unique perspective on Justin Lall

52:10- Brad Moss bamboozled Joe Grue with a legendary psyche

54:50- Ron believes in preempting aggressively when favorable

1:05:00- Edgar Kaplan and his diplomacy

1:14:40- Rubber bridge stories

1:23:40- "You're not playing for anything either?"

1:35:28- How Joe Grue got his nickname "Joe Boo"

27. Scott Hoffer - World's Best Bridge Learning App Nov 27, 2020

Show notes

While Scott Hoffer professes to be the worst player yet to appear on The Setting Trick, he caught my attention as the developer of an iOS app called Tricky Bridge. Presently only available on iPhones and iPads, Tricky Bridge has become my go to destination for anyone who is interested in learning the game. The ACBL Education Foundation helped make the app's series of 37 beginners lessons free. Hat's off to both the Ed Foundation and Scott, you've answered one of my prayers!

Episode Highlights:

2:00- Tricky Bridge and how it came to be

9:48- Tricky Bridge's retention rate with users

11:53- Apple's massive stamp of approval

Contest - Who is the Apple Editor playing Tricky Bridge???

19:33- Scott's company Forklift Studios

Meadowlark Bridge - Rodney Ludwig, the AI engine behind Tricky Bridge

21:18- Computer Bridge World Championships

26:03- Idea behind the Bots in Tricky Bridge

31:03- Grant from the ACBL Education Foundation founded the learning portion of the app

33:38- Please advertise the app to any young person interested in learning bridge

43:23- Thanks to BridgeWinners for helping provide feedback on bugs and crashes

48:43- Scott's ideas about the best way to stream bridge

50:03- Scott's acting career

50:46- Yale student, Reese Koppel, is a Tricky Bridge Intern

53:13- Robert Todd from ACBL Foundation

58:08- Double Dummy Film

26. Nabil Edgtton - Tall, Dark and Handsome Nov 18, 2020

Show notes

I first saw Nabil Edggton at the 14th World Youth Team Championships in Taicang. I remember being in the Vugraph room and hearing fellow Aussie (Nabil is from Oz) David Stern say something to the effect of, Andy (Hung, Neil's junior and current partner) likes to bid game and let Nabil play it. It still strikes as the type of compliment on which I would love to be on the receiving end.

Nabil and I became friends when we teamed up for the Rosenbloom in 2018. We don't talk about it here, but Nabil is a total hunk. He's a good friend and I am pleased to share this conversation with our listeners.

Highlights from Episode:

1:30- Nabil's thoughts on how to get young people into bridge

6:30- Nabil's potential area of growth in bridge

21:00- Nabil's thoughts on a hand that John played

29:10- John's growth in the skill of moving on after a mistake

32:00- What Nabil thinks is the key to working on improving one's flaws

35:40- Nabil's preparation before a bridge tournament

38:50- What Nabil loves most about John

43:10- Nabil's general life advice

46:10- Nabil's advice on a partnership relationship

52:30- How Nabil tackles the problem of improving as a bridge player

1:05:10- The mental edge that babies have

1:09:40- Why Nabil thinks there is a lot of value in simulations

1:36:20- A story of John teaching Hool

1:44:40- Nabil's thoughts on the problem with society

1:51:10- An area of improvement for John

25. Walt Schafer - The Place to Play Online Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

On March 13th Walt Schafer began organizing bridge games on BridgeBase in response to the global shutdown. Walt continues to organize what has become known as "The Schafer Game," selflessly out of his love for bridge. I got to play with the legendary for Bob Hamman for the first time in Walt's game and we went on to win. Beating Episode 23 guests Finn Kolesnik and Jacob Freeman among others.

A friendship has developed between the two of us thanks to this podcast conversation and I am delighted to share this conversation with a fine player and fellow bridge lover.

Episode highlights:

2:55- Previously organized bridge games at the exchange

8 player
7 week schedule
$5 per imp

7:35- How Walt's directed tournament came to be what it is now

14:45- Walt's Bob Hamman story of a great declarer play which to this day, Walt still does not understand why it was necessary

Written up in the bulletin
Took a double dummy software two and a half days to make the same play

19:55- Another Bob Hamman declarer play story

22:20- a Tom Fox story

Strong club system
New Orleans
Walt set up Greco and Hampson

28:40- Baby Levin

31:50- A Spingold story involving Kit Woolsey

Ed Manfield: "Those are the best 16 boards I've ever been involved in my life"

39:00- Sometimes getting knocked out on the first day of the Spingold is a blessing in disguise

43:45- D22 GNT Qualifiers story

45:55- Junior star Finn Kolesnik

47:45- How Walt learned bridge

51:40- Walt's mentors: John and Bart Bramley

55:25- Bridge players succeed in trading options

1:13:05- Walt's first compound squeeze and how Bart just deflated him

1:15:05- Walt's greatest/favorite played hand where he uses the delayed duck squeeze

Redouble can be a great psychological weapon

1:26:05- Walt's role in the history of the Helgemo hand

1:30:30- Walt's physic abilities

1:35:50- Walt is a bridge player at heart

Bridge versus poker in terms of prize money

1:45:30- Walt's invented conventions

Look out for the Shaferton

1:50:55- Hamman still got it in bridge

1:52:00- Junior bridge

1:59:55- Instant classics

24. Tom Carmichael - Captains the Juniors Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

In August of 2012, Tom Carmichael and I spent 12 days together in Taicang, China. Tom as the non-playing captain (NPC) of the USA1 Under 21 team, and me as the executive producer of a documentary film with the working title Lost in the Shuffle. We decided to focus on Tom's team owing to the appeal of the players on it and their chance to win the first ever medal for the US in the Youngsters (Under 21) Series. This conversation is eight years in the making.

As an outside documenter, it's fascinating to hear Tom talk about the dynamics between his fellow NPC's and how they discussed and learned about which teams and players were good. Tom earned silver medals as both a player and NPC in junior bridge and has represented the US in The World Mind Sport Games.

For all of the junior bridge players out there, Tom and Joel Wooldridge's partnership started when they met at the junior reception at a Summer NABC. You never know where you might find your world class partner!

Episode highlights:

1:35- How Tom got into bridge

3:55- Parents met at a bridge club

12:15- How Tom met Joel Wooldridge

14:20 - System development with Joel Wooldridge by mail. Joel became ACBL youngest Life Master in 1990 at the age of 11 years 4 months and 13 days.

18:20- Bridge spans across generations

21:30- Tom believes it is awesome how bridge allows you to compete even against the world best

25:40- Tom's interesting relationships with ACBL Youngest Life Masters

26:50- Atlanta Junior Bridge, Atlanta Super Sectional hosted first ever Youth NABC in 2010

29:20- Tom's memories of the 2012 World Youth Team Championships (the event covered by Double Dummy)

40:15- The competitive pressure and emotions of the game

47:10- Serious Pie Neapolitan pizza in downtown Seattle