Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Setting Trick: Conversations with World Class Bridge Players
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep. 112: Emma Kolesnik on Winning the World Mixed Teams | 26 Sep 2026 | 01:17:37 | |
In this episode of The Setting Trick, I sit down with Emma Kolesnik, who just won the Mixed Teams at the 2026 World Bridge Series in Katowice, Poland. She partnered her husband Adam Grossack, and their teammates were prior Mixed champions Sabine Auken and Roy Welland. Emma takes me through their quarterfinal win, decided by a single imp, including a seven imp time penalty. The final was a marquee matchup against Adam's brother Zach. We talk about pressure at the table, paying college students to learn bridge, and how the game turned her younger brother Finn Kolesnik into a close friend. We also get into playing with your spouse, family trips built around the European championships and why her family gave up cooperative games. __________________________________________________ Key Highlights⏱ One IMP, After a Penalty: Seven minutes over cost seven imps, so a win by eight became a win by one. 🧠 Bridge is Grinding: Adam has helped Emma work hard on every deal. 🎓 Paid to Learn Bridge: With Mitch Dunitz, she paid college friends to come to four lessons. 👫 How Finn Came Around: He refused to play until he learned Emma was being paid to go to the youth NABCs. 🎲 Ticket to Ride: The team name came from a board game, and her family learned cooperative games only start blame games. __________________________________________________ Resources & Next Steps🏆 2026 World Bridge Series results 📸 The Setting Trick on Instagram 🎧 Subscribe to The Setting Trick on Apple Podcasts __________________________________________________ Chapter Timestamps00:00 Cold open 00:52 Welcoming Emma Kolesnik 01:47 A quarterfinal won by one imp 03:39 The seven imp time penalty 05:21 Checking scores on the tablet 07:18 Facing Klukowski and Zmuda 09:03 Pressure, and the grind 10:30 Seven spades doubled 11:44 The last board, two notrump 15:11 Bridesmaids who don't play 15:53 Paying students to learn 19:25 Did she cry? Finn's Soloway 21:32 A final against Zach Grossack 22:45 A comedy of errors 25:09 Rooting in the semifinal 26:56 Six years apart, bridge friends 28:31 Why Finn finally played 30:50 Adam asks Finn's permission 33:20 Playing with your spouse 36:14 Turning down a pro offer 38:23 Tablets, screens, the ACBL 41:56 Roy, Sabine and golf 43:06 Watching the Bermuda Bowl 48:09 Watching family on ViewGraph 49:57 Tromsø and family trips 52:56 How many countries 55:50 Museums on bridge trips 57:22 Why Ticket to Ride 60:56 No more cooperative games 63:10 Nationals with her dad 65:36 A yoga retreat instead 68:16 Boards that stick with you 73:01 The round of 16 ruff 76:06 When she plays next | |||
| Ep. 111: Alessandro Calmanovici Built Bridge Tricks to Make Bridge as Popular as Chess | 12 Sep 2026 | 01:12:15 | |
In this episode of The Setting Trick, I sit down with Alessandro Calmanovici, the founder of Bridge Tricks, a site that became a big part of my own bridge learning. His name rang a bell the first time I found it. He appears in Double Dummy, the film I made at the 2012 World Junior Championships, winning imps on each of the last four boards to scrape into the knockout. We dig into suit combinations and how a solver changes the way you think, the Survivor streaks that have players like Giovanni Donati obsessed, and the Bidding Architect that turns your own system into flashcards. Alessandro built all of it around a full time job and a new baby. We also get into why he thinks the game needs a better public image. __________________________________________________ Key Highlights🎬 Finding Himself in Double Dummy: Alessandro watched the film years later, recognised the event, and realised the player on screen was him. 🧠 Fifty Suit Combinations in a Row: Giovanni Donati ran a Survivor streak of fifty and spent an hour on the last one. 📐 Commit to the Plan Before They Play: 54% against 51.7% on a disputed combination, and why the plan you settle on first wins. 🤖 Built With AI, Starting From Nothing: His wife mentioned a tool at work. Turned down for help, he wrote the solver himself a year later. ♣️ As Popular as Chess: Juniors are close to extinct in Italy and the Swiss scene is thinner still. He wants to change the game's image. __________________________________________________ Resources & Next Steps🃏 Bridge Tricks, Alessandro's platform 📝 Bridge Tricks on BridgeWinners 📘 Peak, on deliberate practice 🎯 Cuebids, the bidding practice app 🎧 Subscribe to The Setting Trick on Apple Podcasts __________________________________________________ Chapter Timestamps03:00 Bridge With Ballers and athletes 04:30 Hooking beginners with BridgeMaster 06:00 Pisa, a classmate's first ten hands 07:30 Taicang, the last four boards 12:00 Suit combinations, the feedback loop 13:30 Survivor streaks, fifty in a row 16:30 Reading par in seconds 19:30 Launching the site, built with AI 21:00 Bridge Lab and Bidding Architect 22:30 Daily users, Fred Gitelman's message 24:00 Why a solver beats an encyclopaedia 25:30 Leonardo Cima says it is wrong 27:19 A possible Cuebids collaboration 31:49 Learning bridge at twelve, Cagliari 34:49 Why the Italian scene shrinks 37:49 Bridge as popular as chess 39:19 Building the solver after a refusal 43:49 Simon de Wijs, its best advocate 46:49 Flashcards for your bidding system 49:49 Being copied, and AI for small builders 52:49 A bridge class in Zurich 54:19 The dinners, not the squeezes 57:19 How Double Dummy got made 61:49 The cup and the daily combination 66:19 Survivor, Rush, where to start 69:19 Paying students, chasing Chess.com | |||
| Ep. 110: Nabil Edgtton Taught AJ Antonios Bridge in Three Months and They Won the Gold Coast Teams | 25 Aug 2026 | 01:00:21 | |
In this episode of The Setting Trick, I sit down with Nabil Edgtton, one of the best bridge players in the world, and AJ Antonios, a professional poker player who learned bridge from scratch then won the 2020 Gold Coast Open Teams three months later. Longtime friends from poker, Nabil and AJ were living together, when Nabil finally convinced AJ to learn bridge. What followed was three hours of study every morning, five days a week. AJ describes a teacher with enormous knowledge and no patience. Nabil describes a student he expected to remember everything first time. When they won their first club game, after about a fortnight, opponents refused to believe AJ had just started! They both love to razz each other, starting from the story of how they first met. Nabil stacked AJ three times in a small poker game, then told him he was too good for these stakes. AJ explains why he rates bridge among the most skill based games he has played, and why its community beats every other he has been part of. Then there is the golf bet, which began with a claim that Nabil could clear the fence at a driving range and ended with a $220,000 wager, an acupuncture session and a punctured lung. AJ closes on Australian Survivor, where he finished third, and on the one minute that undid seven weeks. __________________________________________________ Key Highlights🃏 Three Months to a National Title: AJ learned bridge from zero, won the 2020 Gold Coast Open Teams, then stopped playing. 🔑 Teaching From the Student's Side: Nabil is blunt about his own coaching. You have to explain a game from the learner's side, not your own. 🧠 A Flexible Mind Beats One Foundation: AJ credits Magic, poker, Yu Gi Oh and a Lebanese game called Tarneeb for giving each new idea somewhere to sit. 🎰 Stacked Three Times, Then Recruited: Nabil took AJ's money three times at a poker table, then told him he belonged in bigger games. ⛳ The Bet That Went Over the Fence: A claim about clearing a 350 metre fence became a $220,000 bet that Nabil could reach a three handicap. 🏝 Survivor Tests You at Your Worst: AJ finished third after 47 days in Samoa, lost 15 kilos, and stopped eating to kill a rumour. Resources & Next Steps🃏 Nabil Edgtton's ABF player profile 🏆 The 2020 Gold Coast Open Teams honour board 📰 Liam Milne's match report on the Gold Coast final 🎙 Episode 26, our earlier Nabil interview 🃏 Grand Archive, AJ's next worlds 📚 Peak by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool | |||
| Ep. 109: Tim Verbeek on 28 Years of Bridge, Catching Cheaters, and Learning to Lose | 03 Aug 2026 | 01:37:49 | |
In this episode of The Setting Trick, I sit down with Tim Verbeek, professional bridge player and Chairman of the Dutch Athletes Committee, for a wide-ranging conversation about competitive bridge in the Netherlands and beyond. We open by reminiscing about a dinner in Lyon at the 2017 Transnational World Championships, where he helped pull me out of my post-elimination funk. From there we get into the remarkable depth of Dutch bridge talent, and the origin story of Tim's partnership with Danny Molenaar, which started when they were 12 and 13 years old and has now spanned 28 years. We also dig into one of the most uncomfortable topics in competitive bridge: cheating. Tim walks through real cases, from the Lotan Fisher scandal to an online incident during COVID to a player at the Dutch Bridge Federation who duplicated a key to access hand records. He explains how he developed an eye for suspicious patterns, and why the standard of evidence required to convict in bridge is so much higher than for doping in other sports. We close on the emotional toll of losing, raising a four-year-old daughter while traveling the circuit, and the surprising lack of a definitive beginner's guide to the game. __________________________________________________ Key Highlights 🇳🇱 The Golden Era of Dutch Bridge: Why the Netherlands keeps producing world-class pairs every five to ten years, and Tim's bet that the Dutch will be world champions again within the decade. 🏆 From Fill-ins to Full-Time Teammates: How Tim and Danny Molenaar went from last-minute fill-ins at a US National to permanent members of Patty Cayne's team, thanks to an Israeli pair's bad manners. 🔍 Catching Cheaters in the Bridge World: From Fisher and Schwartz to an online player who sent strategy messages to the wrong group chat, how Tim developed his instinct for spotting cheating. ⚖️ Bridge vs. Doping: Athletes get banned for trace substances, while bridge players suspected of cheating often walk free because federations demand an impossibly high standard of proof. 💔 The Emotional Weight of Losing: My tearful near-miss at the Lyon Transnationals, Tim's moment of self-doubt in Belgium, and how even top professionals lose far more often than they win. 👶 Life as a Bridge Pro and a Father: Two-week tournaments away from his four-year-old daughter Rosa, and coming home to find that "everything in our life is done by Mommy." 📚 The Missing Beginner's Guide to Bridge: Berry Westra's untranslated book, apps like Tricky Bridge, and why the game still lacks a simple learning path for new players. __________________________________________________ Resources & Next Steps 🎴 Learn more about the Dutch Bridge Federation (Nederlandse Bridge Bond) 📱 Try Tricky Bridge, the bridge learning app by Scott Hoffer 📖 The Complete Idiot's Guide to Bridge, recommended for beginners 🏅 Follow the Dutch Athletes Committee and their Olympic qualification work 🎧 Subscribe to The Setting Trick on Apple Podcasts | |||
| Ep: 108: Luc Bellicaud on Building Lia, the Bridge Robot Beating Humans at Their Own Game | 12 Mar 2026 | 01:17:59 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Luc Bellicaud - a three-time Junior World Champion from France and the developer of Lia, the AI bridge robot at IntoBridge. Why is Luc the first French bridge player I’ve interviewed? Because last month, IntoBridge, launched a powerful new AI coaching tool, named after him. Coach Luc is designed to help beginner and intermediate players spot their bidding mistakes(!) in real time. And I wanted the scoop! Luc started building Lia as an intern, describing himself as "quite clueless." Through time he has created an excellent partner and opponent. We discuss how he built her from the ground up and how he fixes her mistakes. Having the coach named after you comes with pressure! Luc shares the controversy over Lia's full-deal access and why LLMs are still no match for hand-coded bridge logic. Luc dates a bridge player who represents France internationally - and amusingly, she works for rival company Funbridge! Together they run a free weekly beginners club in Lille, fuelled by…FREE PIZZA! Away from the table, Luc runs France's biggest YouTube bridge channel. He also refuses to fly unless he must in order to represent his country. 10:20 PM Key Highlights:
Resources and Next Steps: 🤖 Try Coach Luc on IntoBridge - Play a game and see if Coach Luc has any notes on your bidding. ▶️ Watch Luc's French Bridge YouTube Channel for weekly bridge content and lessons. 🎬 Watch the documentary Double Dummy featuring the USA junior team - with some familiar faces from Luc's opponents. 🎧 More Stories Like This - Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge. 📱 Follow @thesettingtrick - Stay connected on Instagram for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. YouTube Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction – Luc Bellicaud 1:53 Coach Luc: The AI Bidding Coach on IntoBridge 7:06 Learning Bridge: Beginners, Teachers & The Lille Club 14:07 Bridge Companies, FunBridge Fallout & AI Controversy 23:21 Building Lia: Coding, Bidding Logic & Design Choices 36:06 The Story Behind Lia’s Name 39:22 Bridge Life: Travel, Tournaments & Playing with His Girlfriend 49:47 Bridge Systems, Partners & Competitive Play 58:39 The Bermuda Bowl Final in Lyon 1:04:04 Double Dummy Documentary & Youth Championships 1:13:00 Luc’s YouTube Channel & Closing | |||
| Ep: 107: Adam Parrish on Leveling Up, Writing Bridge Books and What It Takes to Win at the Nationals | 26 Feb 2026 | 01:26:45 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Adam Parrish, a two-time winner of the American Bridge Teachers Book of the Year Award, host of the Leveling Up podcast, and author of six bridge books. Adam spent all of 2025 on a self-improvement project, dedicating an entire year to getting better at bridge while documenting every step publicly. We dive into what that year actually looked like, from tracking hours of study instead of chasing results, to working with top coaches like Joyjit Sensarma and learning key lessons from players like Steve Weinstein, Bobby Levin, and Gavin Wolpert. Did he actually level up? We also dig into some boards from the team trials, the art of listening as a podcaster, and why Adam believes you cannot improve in isolation. He shares stories about his longtime partner Greg Humphreys, how their NABC Fast Pairs win unfolded in Reno, and his experience playing the USA Team Trials on LoveBridge. Plus, we explore his journey from learning bridge from his maternal grandmother to writing a bridge novel, and what it takes to truly level up at this humbling, wonderful game. Key Highlights:
Resources & Next Steps:
Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 1:05 Meet Adam Parrish and the Leveling Up podcast 4:06 What is the Leveling Up project and why he started it 6:57 Tracking process over results and working with a sports psychology coach 9:12 A tough year at the nationals with Greg Humphries 11:10 Why you cannot improve alone and the value of mentorship 13:26 Has Greg actually leveled up? Talking about his long-time partner 18:16 Live hand analysis from the USA Team Trials 25:00 What separates different levels of players on the same decision 27:13 The most consistent takeaway from a year of learning from the best 35:58 Learning bridge from his maternal grandmother 38:01 Finding duplicate bridge in high school and college 42:44 The NABC Fast Pairs win in Reno with Greg Humphries 46:41 Third place in the Platinum Pairs and the revoke karma story 50:47 Stories about Greg Humphries and what makes him special 58:30 Trying to wrangle Greg for the GNT and team commitments 1:00:00 Why the LoveBridge Team Trials format is exceptional 1:02:43 How Adam uses view graph sessions for serious bridge study 1:05:06 Editing Kit Woolsey's Matchpoints and the book's legacy 1:06:55 Writing six bridge books and what inspires each one 1:15:00 Tournament routines, preparation, and the importance of rest 1:18:53 Podcast preparation and the art of the interview 1:22:47 Plans for the World Championships in Poland and upcoming events 1:25:42 Final reflections and wrap-up
| |||
| Ep. 106: Avery Silverstein on Junior World Championships, Family Bridge Mentorship, and Chasing Gold | 13 Feb 2026 | 01:11:50 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Avery Silverstein, a 17-year-old bridge prodigy who has fallen hard for the game. Despite her young age, Avery has already earned two medals at the Junior World Championships and reached the round of 16 in the Vanderbilt as my partner. We discuss her journey from family bridge club kid to international competitor, including having her father, professional player Aaron Silverstein, as her primary mentor. Avery talks candidly about balancing her senior year of high school with competitive bridge, her training regimen, and how she manages the pressure of representing her country on the world stage. From our dramatic 62-IMP comeback victory against the seventh seed to her heartbreaking silver medal finish at the U16 World Championships, Avery shares the emotional highs and lows of being deeply invested in the game. We explore her multifaceted life, which includes being close to a black belt in mixed martial arts and playing on her school's rugby team. Avery also discusses the college admissions process, her 26 college applications, and the possibility of taking a gap year to focus on professional bridge. With warmth and maturity beyond her years, she reflects on mentorship, the importance of being a great teammate, and her mission to help grow the next generation of junior players. Key Highlights: 🏆 Silver Medal Journey: Avery recounts her team's incredible comeback from being the bottom three or four teams after two days to reaching the final and earning silver at the U16 World Championships. 🎯 Epic Vanderbilt Comeback: The story of our partnership defeating the seventh seed in the Vanderbilt after being down 62 IMPs at halftime, including the dramatic final quarter where our opponents took a 10-minute break and we closed with three consecutive double-digit wins. 👨👧 Father-Daughter Mentorship: Avery discusses the unique dynamics of having Aaron Silverstein as both her dad and primary bridge mentor, including managing nepotism concerns, disagreeing with his advice 15-20% of the time, and how their system evolves differently from his professional partnerships. 📚 System Evolution: How Avery and her partner Jack Boge have built an 80-90 page system document by borrowing from top professionals, playing transfer club, constructive two-bids, and constantly refining their approach through weekly practice sessions. Resources & Next Steps: 🎧 More Stories Like This – Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge. 📱 Follow @thesettingtrick – Stay connected on Instagram for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. Chapter Timestamps:
0:00 Start 0:00 Introduction to Avery Silverstein 1:30 Growing up with professional bridge player parents 2:10 Becoming better than mom at bridge 3:10 Life at the family bridge club 4:20 What friends think about bridge 6:30 Previous podcast appearances and media coverage 7:20 Managing school absences for tournaments 8:10 The beautiful Madeira tournament experience 15:00 Partnership dynamics and playing with different people 24:00 Competing at World Junior Championships 35:00 The intense preparation and practice routine 45:00 Memorable hands and tournament moments 55:00 International bridge community and friendships 1:03:00 Norwegian competitor Nikolai Berg Evans 1:05:00 The pressure of must-win matches 1:06:00 Silver medal heartbreak and "chasing gold" 1:07:30 Weekend plans and upcoming tournaments 1:08:10 MMA training and competition record 1:09:00 Four gold medals and three silver medals in MMA 1:10:00 Looking ahead to St. Louis and future competitions | |||
| Ep. 105: Teaching Bridge to a New Generation with Maya Jonas-Silver | 29 Jan 2026 | 01:38:00 | |
I was inspired to interview Maya Jonas-Silver, because of this post she made on Bridge Winners bemoaning the lack of playing opportunities for her recent bridge initiates. After winning the 2023 20-50 Mini McKenney award Maya hasn't stopped. She has become a passionate advocate for bringing young adults into the game. Here she shares her journey from learning bridge at summer camp to becoming a bridge teacher and director at Honors Bridge Club in New York City. Her teaching philosophy, that bridge doesn't need to be intimidating or require years of study before you can actually play and enjoy the game, has helped me be more willing to introduce friends to the game using her framework. Maya believes in getting beginners to the table quickly, and no feedback! We discuss the barriers facing young bridge players, from finding affordable games to navigating the tournament scene without mentors. Maya reflects on the critical moments in her own bridge career, when someone like Yoko Sobel stepped in to encourage her and her husband Jack. She also shares her vision for growing the game, including making beginner classes more accessible, creating online teaching modules, and building a network of bridge mentors to help newcomers transition from lessons to competitive play. Plus, we touch on the joys and challenges of playing bridge with your spouse and balancing bridge with parenthood. _____________________________________________________________ Key Highlights:🎓 Teaching Bridge Fast: Maya's approach to teaching beginners focuses on getting people playing right away. She believes bridge is simple enough to learn in an hour and emphasizes playing over endless study. 🏆 From Beginner to National Competitor: Maya shares how she went from playing kitchen table bridge to qualifying for Nationals in GNT, finishing second and sending teams to represent New York, including students who had only been playing for 6-18 months. 💡 The Mentorship Gap: Maya discusses how critical it was to have people like Yoko Sobel, Alan Davidson, and Drew Cavalier invest in her development, and why building a network of mentors for young adults is essential for growing the game. 🎯 Making Bridge Accessible: Maya advocates for free or low-cost beginner games, online teaching modules, and better pathways from lessons to duplicate play. She sees young adults as an underserved demographic in the bridge world who need structured support. ❤️ Playing with Your Partner: Maya and her husband Jack navigate the joys and tensions of being bridge partners and life partners. She shares their philosophy: she can handle being the better player, but when he's better, expectations get too high! 🎲 Bridge vs. Board Games: Maya compares bridge to popular board games like Settlers of Catan, arguing that bridge is actually simpler than many games people willingly spend hours learning. _____________________________________________________________ Resources & Next Steps:📱 Practice your skills on FunBridge - Maya's favorite app for beginners because you can replay hands and learn from mistakes. 🎯 Bid with your partner asynchronously using Cuebids - A great tool for getting more practice without needing to coordinate schedules. 🏛️ Visit Maya at Honors Bridge Club in New York City (110 East 55th Street) for beginner classes and supervised play. 📱 Maya's Instructions for teaching bridge to beginners 🎧 More Stories Like This - Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge. 📱 Follow @thesettingtrick - Stay connected on Instagram for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. _____________________________________________________________ Chapter Timestamps:0:00 Start 1:40 Mini McKenney win 2:40 Teaching young adults and the gap in bridge programs 5:00 Maya's 10-week teaching structure 6:20 GNT success: students qualifying for Nationals 8:20 Losing to the eventual GNT champions 11:00 Learning bridge at summer camp 14:00 Moving to New York and finding the bridge community 15:00 Meeting Yoko Sobel and bar bridge in Brooklyn 18:00 Becoming a director at Honors Bridge Club 19:00 Playing in the Mixed Trials 21:00 The importance of GNT for young players 23:00 Katie Sullivan and rare young bridge success stories 26:00 Playing with Omar in NAP 28:00 Playing with James Holzhauer (Jeopardy champion) 31:40 Bridge as a career and overcoming existential dread 35:00 Learning bridge at summer camp and teaching philosophy 36:40 Bridge as a victim of its own success 38:30 Teaching beginners: no trump, suited play, then bidding 40:00 Document for teaching friends in one hour 45:00 Teaching David Ger's friend at the bridge club 48:20 The importance of not giving too much feedback 53:00 Teaching quantitative traders how to bid 54:20 Working at Honors Bridge Club and directing 56:40 The Revenge Mitchell movement 1:00:30 Playing rubber bridge at the Regency 1:07:00 Making bridge free for young adults 1:09:40 Creating a compelling bridge film or series 1:11:00 Favorite resources: FunBridge and Cubits 1:16:20 Bridge fights and playing with your spouse 1:19:30 Bridge and parenthood 1:26:00 Getting hired to play vs. teaching 1:28:00 Studying human evolutionary biology at Harvard 1:30:00 The evolution of cooperation and bridge strategy
| |||
| Ep. 104: From Water Polo to World Championships with Ethan Derman | 15 Jan 2026 | 01:27:02 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Ethan Derman, a remarkable young talent who just got accepted early decision to the University of Virginia. Ethan shares his journey from playing baseball and water polo to becoming a junior world championship medalist in bridge. We dive into our dramatic Vanderbilt comeback against the heavily favored Rubenstein team featuring Zach Grossack, Michael Rosenberg, Joe Grue and Brad Moss. Where we were down 62 IMPs at the half. Then pulled of one of the most satisfying wins I've ever experienced. Ethan goes into his difficult decision to quit competitive baseball to focus on bridge, and how that choice has shaped his path forward. We explore how water polo taught him teamwork and mental toughness that translates directly to the bridge table. Ethan discusses his partnership with Avery Silverstein, training with legendary player Chip Martel, and invaluable coaching from Aaron Silverstein, Avery's dad. From winning silver and bronze medals at junior world championships to balancing college applications with tournament play, Ethan has a big future ahead in the game. His summer plans include playing multiple European tournaments as well as the nationals and world championships. Key Highlights:• 🎓 UVA Early Decision: Ethan shares the emotional moment of getting accepted to UVA early decision, his top choice. Though he's not sure how much he'll be involved with Hoos Playing Bridge, the UVA club. • 🏆 The Epic Vanderbilt Comeback: How our team, Silversetin and the Destroyers, rallied from down 62 IMPs at halftime to defeat the 8th overall-seed. • 🥈 World Championship Medals: Ethan recounts winning silver in the Under-16 and bronze in the Under-21 world championships, including dramatic qualification battles and playing against the best junior teams in the world. • ⚾ Choosing Bridge Over Baseball: The difficult decision to quit competitive baseball despite being on track for college recruitment, and how falling in love with bridge made that choice clear. • 🤽 Water Polo's Impact on Bridge: How being a varsity water polo player taught Ethan about teamwork, handling pressure, and the goldfish mentality of forgetting the last board, essential skills for competitive bridge. • 👨🏫 Training with the Best: Ethan's structured training regimen have at times included weekly sessions with Chip Martel, one of the winningest players in ACBL history, and constant mentorship from Aaron Silverstein. Resources & Next Steps:• 🎧 More Stories Like This - Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge. • 📱 Follow @thesettingtrick - Stay connected on Instagram for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. Chapter Timestamps:0:00 Introduction and Welcome 1:45 Getting Into UVA Early Decision 5:41 Future Bridge Goals and Summer Training Plans 8:36 Training with Chip Martell 12:06 The Importance of Mentorship in Bridge 15:17 First Meeting and Playing Together 22:39 Starting Bridge and Playing with Paul Holmes 26:46 Traveling Solo to Tournaments 30:13 Family Background and Bridge Heritage 32:58 College and Career Goals in Finance 35:31 Balancing Bridge with Future Career 37:17 Water Polo and Its Impact on Bridge 42:38 Aaron Silverstein as Coach and Mentor 43:17 The Epic Vanderbilt Comeback Against Grue-Moss 50:10 Quitting Baseball to Focus on Bridge 54:31 Under-16 World Championship Silver Medal 01:01:04 Under-21 World Championship Bronze Medal 01:07:45 The Importance of Aaron's Coaching 01:12:32 Beating Team Rubenstein - Biggest Achievement 01:14:04 Playing on Vugraph Against World-Class Players 01:19:54 Summer Bridge Tour Plans in Europe 01:22:27 Friends' Reactions to Bridge Career 01:26:11 Wrap Up and Looking Ahead | |||
| Ep. 103: Antonio Palma Finally Breaks Through After Seven Straight Finals Losses | 30 Dec 2025 | 01:10:36 | |
I'm thrilled to welcome Antonio Palma from Portugal to the show today. Antonio has had an incredible run of second-place finishes in recent years, including the Rosenblum, European Mixed Championships, Soloway Knockouts, and Spingold. Last year, he broke through by winning the pairs in Madeira, leading Sjoert Brink to call him the best matchpoint player in the world, and then claiming the Club de Compiastre trophy at the South American Championships. But the real celebration came recently when he finally won the Reisinger at the Fall NABC, ending that streak of seven consecutive finals losses. It was a relief, Antonio says. In our conversation, Antonio opens up about what those years of finishing second felt like, the moment he realized he'd won the Reisinger (he wasn't even playing the final set!), and his journey from professional poker player to bridge champion. We discuss how poker shaped his approach to pressure moments and reading cards, why defense is his favorite part of the game, his challenges with tilting at the table, and the soon to be legendary hand where he took 23 minutes to defend two hearts and made Bobby Levin want to quit bridge. This was a particularly enjoyable conversation with one of bridge's rising stars. ___________________________________________________________________ Key Highlights:🏆 Breaking the Curse: After seven consecutive finals losses, Antonio finally won the Reisinger and describes the overwhelming relief of no longer wondering if he was good enough to win the big one. 🍺 Watching from the Bar: Antonio didn't play the final set. Instead, he watched from the bar with Johan Upmark, drinking beer, watching football and hoping! 🃏 From Poker Pro to Bridge Champion: Antonio was previously a professional. He explains how those skills help him read cards, handle pressure, and control emotions during critical moments in bridge. 🛡️ Defense is Everything: Antonio reveals that defense is his favorite part of bridge, and miscommunication on defense is what tilts him the most, especially when signals get crossed. 😤 The Tilt is Real: Multiple teammates confirm that Antonio tilts easily at the table. He admits it's his South European blood and shares the story of a complex diamond lead that went wrong and cost them a critical board. ⏱️ The 23-Minute Defense: Antonio took 23 minutes to defend two hearts, eventually finding the only winning line. Bobby Levin responded in the chat saying he wanted to quit bridge, and Antonio's team still lost the match by forty-six IMPs. 🤝 Nystrom as Mentor: Antonio credits Fredrik Nystrom as his best teammate and mentor who takes every question seriously, helps him improve, and understands when he needs space after tilting. 🥈 European Mixed Silver Medal: Playing with Andrea Nilsson, Simon Holt, and Maya Lo Björk Heed, Antonio made it to the European Mixed Championships final in 2023, losing by just five IMPs. ___________________________________________________________________ Resources & Next Steps:🎧 More Stories Like This - Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge. 📱 Follow @thesettingtrick - Stay connected on Instagram and for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. | |||
| Ep. 102: Ella & Julie – Denmark's Rising Stars in Women's Bridge | 26 Sep 2025 | 01:26:59 | |
In this episode, John McAllister sits down with Julie Marina Sigsgaard and Ella Rosthøj, two young Danish players whose friendship, partnership, and love of bridge have taken them from neighborhood kids to representing Denmark on the world stage. Despite only playing bridge for a handful of years, their dedication and countless hours at the table have already earned them national titles, international medals, and unforgettable experiences around the world. Ella and Julie share how they grew from casual juniors to key members of Denmark's women's team, the story of their dramatic run at the Champions Cup, what it's like balancing bridge with school and gap years, and why having boyfriends who also play bridge is essential! With warmth and humor, they also open up about temper at the table, tears after tough losses, and the joy of winning B finals (again and again).
Key Highlights:
Resources & Next Steps:
Episode Breakdown: 0:00 Start 6:33 Representing Denmark at the Venice Cup 7:36 Facing China in the knockout rounds 17:05 Champions Cup run and the controversial ending 21:38 Growing Junior Bridge DK Instagram and chasing sponsorships 23:16 Life as juniors, gap years, and constant bridge practice 31:18 Traveling the world for tournaments (Memphis, Iceland, Prague, Cyprus) 44:17 Denmark's Bermuda Bowl run and watching at Fox & Hounds bar 57:02 Fun stories: badminton matches and team camaraderie 1:08:22 Balancing relationships, studies, and bridge ambitions 1:22:39 Christina as a mentor and "guardian angel" for Danish juniors 1:26:29 Reflections on their journey and what's next
| |||
| Ep. 101: Emanuel Unge – All in for Bridge, Building the Premier Bridge Practice Tool | 28 Aug 2025 | 01:18:54 | |
In this episode, John McAllister sits down with Emanuel Unge, the creator of Cue Bids, the hottest app in bridge today. Emanuel shares how he discovered bridge at age 25. After years of poker and board games, and how that late start completely reshaped his life — leading him to meet his wife, build lifelong friendships, and ultimately create a platform that has transformed how players practice bidding worldwide. From his early simulations to today's sleek app used by the world's best, Emanuel opens up about the passion and persistence behind Cue Bids, why feedback drives innovation, and how features like Leak Finder are helping players spot weaknesses and grow. Along the way, he talks about competing in Sweden, balancing tech with family, his surprising victories at the table, and even what he'd say to Bill Gates if the two crossed paths at a tournament.
Key Highlights:
Resources & Next Steps:
Episode Breakdown:
| |||
| Ep. 100: Christina Lund Madsen – Bridge's Master Mixer | 21 Aug 2025 | 01:33:16 | |
In this episode, John McAllister sits down with Christina Lund Madsen, a writer, journalist, tournament organizer, and world-class competitor, coming off of winning her third European Mixed Team Championship. Known for her sharp wit and fearless bidding, Christina shares how she uses storytelling to connect people, celebrate the game, and show bridge as more than just cards on a table. From her unlikely appearance at a European junior camp to her eventually becoming a world champion, Christina opens up about balancing motherhood, career, and competition, and why laughter and vulnerability matter as much as trophies. Key Highlights:
Resources & Next Steps:
| |||
| Ep. 99: Eat Like Gold: David Gold on Bridge, Food, and Playing with Legends | 17 Jul 2025 | 01:27:14 | |
This is a long anticipated conversation for our host John McAllister as he finally sits down with English star David Gold. David considers himself lucky to play with legends Zia Mahmood for the North American Bridge Championships and Andrew Robson for the English open team. Fresh off competing in the European Bridge Championships in Poznań, Poland, David shares insights into his bridge journey, memorable stories, and his passion for food, highlighted by his new Instagram project, Eat Like Gold. Key Highlights:
Resources & Next Steps:
| |||
| Ep. 98: From Control Room to Card Table: Tracy Brines' Unique Journey in Bridge and Nuclear Power | 12 Jun 2025 | 01:10:50 | |
In this captivating episode, John McAllister welcomes Tracy Brines, whose extraordinary background spans naval service, nuclear power plant operations, and competitive bridge. Tracy reveals engaging stories from his Navy days, shares intense experiences from his time managing nuclear power plant control rooms, and discusses how these high-stakes roles shaped his bridge-playing strategies. Tune in to explore Tracy's journey—from his introduction to bridge in college, navigating intense military deployments, to competing in national bridge tournaments alongside his wife. Key Highlights:
Resources & Next Steps:
| |||
| Ep. 97: From Hearts to Champion: John McAllister's Personal Bridge Odyssey | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:18:35 | |
In a special solo episode, John McAllister shares his own personal journey into the world of bridge. John takes listeners from his first bridge game with Aunt Kathleen to major tournament wins, highlighting the mentors, friends, and unexpected encounters that shaped his bridge career. Listen in for heartfelt anecdotes, insights into learning bridge, and John's reflections on pivotal moments and memorable players he met along the way.
Key Highlights:
Resources & Next Steps:
| |||
| Ep. 96: From Underdogs to USA-1: Inside Adam Grossack's Epic Bridge Victory | 29 May 2025 | 00:59:31 | |
In this unforgettable episode, John McAllister sits down with Adam Grossack, fresh off his team's stunning victory in the US Open Trials. Adam shares candid stories from the tournament, detailing how his four-handed team navigated intense matches, strategic pairings, and unexpected twists to claim the prestigious USA-1 spot in the Bermuda Bowl. Dive into behind-the-scenes insights on the team dynamics, preparation tactics, and pivotal hands that shaped their incredible run. Key Takeaways from This Episode:
| |||
| Ep. 95: Cheating, Convictions, and Compassion: Inside the American Contract Bridge League's Recorder's Office with Jeff Edelstein | 22 May 2025 | 01:12:43 | |
Ever feel like you have been cheated playing bridge online? Have you taken the time to report the pair by filing a player memo? Join John McAllister as he sits down with Jeff Edelstein, the ACBL recorder and a Grand Life Master, for a revealing conversation about the nuances of cheating detection, ethical prosecution, and the human stories behind bridge's biggest integrity challenges. From Edgar, the cutting-edge cheating detection software, to personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes insights, this episode unpacks the complexities of keeping bridge fair, and human. Key Takeaways from This Episode:
| |||
| Ep. 94: From Iceland to Delray: Svenni Eiriksson on Friendship, Risk, and Reinvention | 15 May 2025 | 01:29:14 | |
What happens when a car rental mishap, a spur-of-the-moment bridge partnership, and a life-changing move from Iceland to Florida collide? You get Svenni Eiriksson, a bridge player whose story is equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply human. John McAllister sits down with his former partner and friend to relive the many twists, laughs, and breakthroughs of Svenni's journey from Icelandic tournaments to an NABC win in the U.S. More than just a fun loving, lover of laughing, Svenni impressed John, as his partner by pulling off a trump coup without breaking a sweat. Svenni shares how bridge shaped his life, his move, and his community. Key Takeaways from This Episode:
| |||
| Ep. 93: John's Jumbled Auction |It's Your Call!| | 08 May 2025 | 00:46:42 | |
- | |||
| Ep. 92: Lynn Castoldi – Winning with Joy, Scarves & Spades | 01 May 2025 | 00:32:20 | |
In this episode, John interviews Lynn Castoldi, fresh off two huge wins at the Spring NABC — the 10K Knockout Teams and the Women's Swiss Teams, the latter by a razor-thin margin of just 0.13 VPs. With her signature laugh, Lynn shares the stories behind her victories, her partnership with Ann Karin Fuglestad, and how she went from getting kicked out of bridge lessons at a senior center to becoming a national champion. Along the way, we hear about bridge cruises, recruiting Egyptian pros on BBO, and the stylish team scarves that helped tie it all together. Whether she's playing with a world-class junior or her long-time partner the "Minister of Defense," Lynn brings enthusiasm, optimism, and a love of the game that's totally contagious. Key Takeaways from This Episode:🥇 Lynn won two events at the Spring NABC — including her first 10K title after finishing second the year before
📱 Follow @thesettingtrick – Stay connected on Instagram and for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. | |||
| Ep. 91: Dennis Bilde – The Danish Ace | 24 Apr 2025 | 01:23:16 | |
In this episode, John sits down with Dennis Bilde, one of Denmark's top bridge talents and a player with a reputation for being both formidable at the table and fun to be around. Dennis shares stories of missing flights, winning world championships, and his early card-playing days before discovering bridge. The conversation dives into partnership dynamics, life with two young kids, and how Danish coffee might be the bridge world's best-kept secret. From his time on the Lavazza team to his upcoming appearance at the Bermuda Bowl on home soil, Dennis reflects on what it means to grow, both as a player and a person. Key Takeaways from This Episode:🏆 Dennis won the 2008 Junior World Championship—after failing to qualify for the under-21 trials 🍷 Known for being a slow drinker, he's still a favorite drinking buddy of Zia's 🎲 He and Zia played 5NT in each of their first two tournaments together 🇩🇰 He'll represent Denmark at the 2025 Bermuda Bowl, alongside his longtime partner Martin Schaltz 🧸 Father of two, Dennis talks candidly about balancing bridge with family life 🧠 On his first try at Rubber Bridge in New York, he walked away with $3,500 after reluctantly agreeing to play $1 per point ☕️ What's a Danish coffee? Let's just say you might need a solo cup… 🎄 His time with the Lavazza team included Christmas dinners at Maria Teresa Lavazza's home Resources & Next Steps: 🎧 More Stories Like This – Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge. 📱 Follow @thesettingtrick – Stay connected on Instagram and for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. Andrew Robson describes Dennis as the best player in Denmark | |||
| Ep. 90: Adrienne Carter: Shifting Your Mindset | 21 Apr 2025 | 01:33:07 | |
My guest today is Adrienne Carter. She claims to be an aspiring bridge player. I know her from working with her as a performance coach and mindset specialist. She has worked across industries with everyone from CEOs to poker players, and has seen a recent uptick in interested golf players following her appearance on the Chasing Scratch podcast. I reached out to Adrienne's company, Primed Mind, in September of 2022 at the recommendation of my friend and former Setting Trick guest Nabil Edgtton, who used Primed Mind's hypnosis services to improve his performance. You can listen to my conversation with Nabil here: https://www.thesettingtrick.com/episode-26-nabil-edgtton You can learn more about Adrienne's work here: https://primedmind.com/adriennecarter/ Here's an affiliate link to Primed Mind for Setting Trick listeners: https://primedmind.com/thesettingtrick/ Subscribers to The Setting Trick email list check your email or to subscribe click here: https://www.thesettingtrick.com/ Episode Highlights: 4:44 – Adrienne likes working with professionals across industries and getting a taste of her clients' work. 7:47 – "The methodology matters, but less than you think." 14:21 – Adrienne says that every board should be treated as practice for the next one, and to avoid ruminating on mistakes. 20:16 – Evolving alongside the game 21:09 – The path to the Bermuda Bowl 30:31 – How hypnosis helps you tune into the reactions in your body 36:23 – Setting your expectations and process 44:30 – Adrienne started her career as an occupational therapist, but fell in love with poker. 53:33 – Hypnosis deals with the part of your brain that processes feelings before you consciously notice them, making hypnosis a deeply emotional process. 57:04 – The difference between occupational therapy and hypnosis 1:05:59 – Adrienne's mother is a bridge player. 1:10:21 – "I'm so grateful to have found poker when I did." 1:13:29 – Adrienne says that regret happens when you make a decision out of obligation, and that decisiveness helps to prevent regret. 1:20:53 – The bar for success moves throughout a tournament as you advance and increase your expectations. 1:28:31 – Adrienne's kids are also learning through sports and games. She sees both as an opportunity to teach them about decision making.
| |||
| Ep. 89 Stefan Scorchev: Getting IntoBridge | 21 Apr 2025 | 01:13:28 | |
My guest today is Stefan Scorchev, a bridge player, friend, and the creator of IntoBridge. For those who are unaware, IntoBridge is a free platform for online bridge games. In his childhood, Stefan learned the value of online bridge as he spent hours playing bridge every day, and found that playing bridge online encouraged him compete at in-person tournaments. Stefan is the first Bulgarian guest I've had on the show, and I fist met him in 2012 when he played on the Bulgarian team in the Junior Nationals. We talk about in-person and virtual bridge, the unique features of IntoBridge that borrow from modern gaming, and what it's like to run a bridge startup. You can learn more about IntoBridge on its website: https://intobridge.com/ Subscribers to The Setting Trick email list check your email or to subscribe click here: https://www.thesettingtrick.com/ Episode Highlights: 4:58 – Stefan played bridge online constantly in his childhood, and moved into in-person tournaments at seventeen. He says he played bridge as much as fifteen hours a day. 12:05 – Stefan says he is the strangest looking person at tournaments because he always wears his IntoBridge merchandise. 16:05 – "We focused on inventing something that has the potential that you close it immediately and continue whenever you can." 17:35 0:54 – Ranked matchups on IntoBridge 24:17 – The Daily exists to give people a reason to return to IntoBridge every day. 28:47 – Stefan has a lot of ideas for new bridge formats unique to IntoBridge 32:45 – Some unfortunate mis-clicks 40:12 – Bridge marketing is difficult, so word of mouth has been the best marketing channel for IntoBridge 48:22 – Running a startup is difficult as investors and employees rely on the performance of the business 56:46 – Having access to a free bridge platform as a kid was game-changing for Stefan. 57:59 – One great aspect of online bridge is that it naturally leads people into in-person bridge, encouraging them to meet more people. 1:02:41 – Stefan's Fiance, Desi, is coming to the US Nationals for the first time. | |||
| Ep 88: Ami Zamir – From Fishbein Glory to Fatherhood | 20 Apr 2025 | 01:29:17 | |
In this episode of The Setting Trick, John welcomes his friend and bridge phenom Ami Zamir—one half of the ACBL's top-ranked pair of 2023. From winning major events to missing the final session of a national championship for the birth of his daughter, Ami shares the highs, the heart, and the hustle of life as a rising star in the world of competitive bridge. Ami opens up about his journey from high school sweethearts to fatherhood, his chess obsession, and what it's like to chase glory across Europe and the U.S. with partner Oren Telodano. The two discuss how talking through hands (even off the clock) sharpens their game, the emotional rollercoaster of playing for national teams, and how coffee routines and NBA fandoms keep life on the road a little saner. Plus, you'll hear what it was like to almost win ACBL Player of the Year—and why Ami is still laughing about it. Key Takeaways from This Episode:👶 Bridge Meets Baby – Ami skipped the Reisinger finals when his daughter was born early. The team understood, proving real partnership goes beyond the table. 🏆 From Platinum Pairs to the Fishbein Trophy – Ami and Oren's standout 2023 included back-to-back top finishes and winning the most masterpoints at the Summer NABC. 🔥 Fights Happen, Wins Follow – After their biggest argument as partners, a long dinner conversation led to a tournament victory. Communication is key. 🎯 Pressure Is a Privilege – Whether tied in a Bermuda Bowl quarter final or in contention for Player of the Year, Ami thrives under pressure—and prefers it that way. 🧠 Daily Debriefs - Practice – Ami and Oren's bridge "training" often centers around conversations—not drills. Talking through scenarios helps them stay aligned. 👟 Hoops, Habits, and Vegan Hacks – Ami shares his basketball battles with Adi, his vegan-at-home/freestyle-abroad food rule, and his partnership's coffee ritual. Resources & Next Steps:📅 Follow the European Open in Poznań – Ami and Oren will be competing with an English team in this major event. 🎧 More Stories Like This – Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge. 📱 Follow @thesettingtrick – Stay connected on Instagram and for episode drops, tournament pics, and more. | |||
| Ep. 87 Tuva Nilsmark: BridgeQueen | 06 Mar 2025 | 01:08:23 | |
Ep. 87 Tuva Nilsmark: BridgeQueen Today's guest is Tuva Nilsmark, who goes by BridgeQueen on YouTube. As a bridge lover and social media user, Tuva saw a gap in the YouTube landscape for bridge videos that are light, short, easy to understand, and fun to watch. She fills that gap with her tutorials and weekly Funbridge Friday videos, hoping to inspire new players to hone their skills. Bridge isn't just community for Tuva – it's a part of her family. Tuva's boyfriend is Simon Ekenberg, whom she met through bridge. She also picked up bridge as a teenager to play with her grandparents, whom she promptly abandoned for stronger players. Boye Brogeland suggested I interview Tuva for this episode. You can listen to my conversation with Boye here: https://www.thesettingtrick.com/https/thesettingtricklibsyncom/ep-84-boye-brogeland-bridge-at-the-edge-and-in-person Subscribers to The Setting Trick email list check your email or to subscribe click here: https://www.thesettingtrick.com/ You can follow Tuva on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bridge.queen/?hl=en Tuva's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgequeen Episode Highlights: 2:00 – Tuva is in a fantasy football league with her boyfriend Simon Ekenberg other bridge players: "Really good bridge players; they suck at fantasy football though." 4:58 –Tuva started her YouTube channel recently, to a largely positive reception. You can watch her videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgequeen 8:14 – How Tuva got started in bridge 11:19 – Tuva's father is the captain of the Swedish Open 12:48 – The first time Tuva saw Simon 15:14 – As if her bridge-playing family wasn't enough, you might also know of Tuva's mother, Catrin Nilsmark, who is a golfer and two-time captain of the European Solheim Cup Team. 22:15 – With her Funbridge Fridays series, Tuva hopes to show a different side of bridge. She wants to counter the overly serious image that bridge can have. 29:17 – Tuva and Simon played a bridge and golf event and beat Ola Rimstedt. 36:30 – Tuva's first partner was her father 42:32 – The BridgeQueen YouTube channel has a video called "Learn Bridge in only Three Minutes:" https://youtu.be/MxWO8EFujbw?feature=shared 49:01 – The most pressure Tuva has felt playing bridge so far 55:04 – Tuva's ultimate goal is to win the Venice cup 58:55 – Another long term goal of Tuva's is beating Simon
| |||
| Ep. 86 Drew Cavalier: From Nervous to National Bridge Champ | 28 Feb 2025 | 01:04:19 | |
Today's guest is Drew Cavalier, a bridge player who lives in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2022, Drew won the Wernher Open Paris with Christian Jolly, who Drew describes as one of the smartest people he's ever met. We discuss his bridge mentors and partners, the highs and lows of competitive bridge, and some of Drew's most memorable hands. Drew played in an online speedball with Owen Lien, another podcast guest, and had an extremely impressive score. You can listen to that episode here: https://www.thesettingtrick.com/https/thesettingtricklibsyncom/episode-81-owen-lien-does-it-all-in-bridge Subscribers to The Setting Trick email list check your email or to subscribe click here: https://www.thesettingtrick.com/ Episode Highlights: 4:00 – How Drew ended up playing with Disa Eythorsdottir at sectionals 9:09 – Drew has been lucky with mentors 19:02 – Drew's disaster Imp Pairs hand. Learn more about the Imp Pairs format: https://www.bridgewebs.com/wncunit171/ImpPairs.pdf 23:10 – "This is the most important moment of my bridge career." 30:10 – Dan Lev and Drew Cavalier played in Vegas recently. They led on Blue Ribbons on their first day, but they did not make it to day three. Drew speaks highly of Dan as a partner. 36:32 – Drew's long term goal is winning a long-form knockout. 38:40 – The first time Drew and Christian Jolly played together, and "the only thing" Drew ever taught Jolly. 42:33 – One of Drew's favorite bridge hands 45:44 – "When we won the Wernher, we discussed the system for fifteen minutes beforehand." 46:55 – Drew's experience at The Gold Coast Congress, and why he loves Australia. 50:55 – Bridge overseas and language barriers 56:49 – Why it's important to have a growth mindset in bridge | |||
| Ep. 85 Jason Hackett AKA Prime Mutton | 14 Feb 2025 | 01:09:43 | |
Today's guest is bridge player turned burgeoning social media star Jason Hackett, also known as Prime Mutton. A frequent traveler, guinness reviewer, and 2019 Eurotransnational winner, Hackett and I had much to discuss. We talk about the strangest food he's tried during his travels, how he broke out on YouTube and Instagram, and his favorite bridge formats. Jason's mother Olivia introduced him and his twin brother to bridge at eleven years old. Though Jason does not discuss bridge much on his social media channels, he is a formidable opponent. He beat Boye Brogeland and Geir Helgemo in the Euro Juniors in 1994 and has represented England in the European Championships many times. Of bridge, he said "I just enjoy playing, it does not matter with whom." You can read more about Jason in his recent Esquire feature. Subscribers to The Setting Trick email list check your email or to subscribe click here. Episode Highlights: 4:59 – Eating brains, grasshoppers, and more 6:25 – Jason's travel stats, and the types of places he likes to visit 8:51 – Where did the name come from? You can read more about the origins of Prime Mutton in this article 9:50 – Is Guinness better if it's flowing more? 12:10 – Hackett's longest tenured partnerships in bridge even though they support opposite Manchester football clubs 16:41 – You need to watch some of Jason's cameos. The products on his website are also fantastic, especially this pillow on his website - "you never get wet in the pub!" 21:15 – Jason explains how his YouTube channel took off 30:30 – Why Jason's preferred bridge format is pairs 40:46 – The types of places where Prime Mutton gets recognized 48:41 – How Jason edits his videos 55:27 – Jason's love for bridge started in his teens 57:40 – Rubber bridge 1:03:30 – You can keep up with Prime Mutton on his website 1:06:22 – How Jason learned to tell a good pint from a bad one
| |||
| Ep. 84 Boye Brogeland: Bridge at the Edge and In Person | 06 Feb 2025 | 00:50:46 | |
Boye Brogeland is a force to be reckoned with. He holds the World Grand Master title, with three European Open Championship wins under his belt, as well as several North American championships. He also played a prominent role in uncovering the Fisher and Schwartz cheating scandal when he noticed that his opponents were taking risks that would not make sense unless they knew the cards his team held. We discuss how he got into bridge, some of his most memorable competitions, and his role in the scandal. In preparation for this conversation, Boye asked me to get on the World Bridge Tour App. I was reluctant at first, but when you get to interview someone like Boye, you follow orders. I played a couple virtual tournaments on the app before the events started in Iceland, and I highly recommend it. You get to play against Simon Holt, Sartaj Hans, and many more players, and compare your results. Check out the app here: https://www.wbtbridge.com/ Subscribers to The Setting Trick email list check your email or to subscribe click here. Episode Highlights: 2:12 – Boye's first event on the Open team 8:46 – Boye's grandparents taught him bridge 11:04 – Writing bridge books, which Boye says is the most work he's ever done for the least pay 12:07 – The most memorable hand of Boye's career 17:54 – The unique method that Boye used to memorize the best plays 21:32 – How Boye won Vanderbilt in 2022 32:55 – Boye doesn't like the sheriff label he was given during the Fisher and Schwartz cheating scandal; he thinks of himself as more of a concerned citizen. You can read more about the scandal here: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/may/05/lotan-fisher-bridge-cheating-scandal-2015-documentary 42:53 – The backlash Boye faced during the scandal, and how he got away from it 46:15 – "They stole our name!" | |||
| Ep. 83 Brian Reynolds - Fancies himself as a Bridge Outlier | 27 Jan 2025 | 01:40:43 | |
Brian Reynolds is an LA-based bridge teacher who, with his wife, Samantha, runs an educational website, The Bridge Teachers. They specialize in teaching people who've "never touched a deck of cards." That's how they got recommended to the production team for the bridge documentary film, "The Kids Table." That initial meeting dramatically altered the film's storyline. One player quit on the spot! As a bridge pro, Brian is refreshingly candid about his bridge ability. This conversation covers a broad range of topics.
| |||
| Ep. 82 Richard Zeckhauser: Making Better Decisions in the Card Game Bridge | 27 Oct 2024 | 01:16:07 | |
Today on The Setting Trick, we're thrilled to welcome Richard Zeckhauser, a towering figure whose expertise spans both economics and competitive bridge. A professor at Harvard Kennedy School, Richard has spent decades exploring the complexities of decision-making, risk, and strategic behavior. His groundbreaking work has shaped the fields of economics and public policy, offering insights into how we assess uncertainty in everything from health to finance. But his talents extend beyond the classroom—he's also a highly accomplished bridge player, with two North American Bridge Championships to his name, including the prestigious Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs. Join us as we dive into Richard's unique perspectives on strategy, risk, and the fascinating intersections between his professional work and his passion for bridge.
| |||
| Episode 81: Owen Lien Does It All In Bridge | 01 Oct 2024 | 01:15:27 | |
John McAllister chats with 35-year-old Owen Lien of Oak Park MI about Junior Bridge, directing on BBO, playing professionally and reaching highs and lows in national events. Owen has won two limited NABC events: The 10K Swiss in 2016 and the 0–5000 Mini Spingold in 2009. He was second in those same events in 2014 and 2007. A Platinum Life Master with over 18,000 masterpoints – 10,000 of them gold and 2100 platinum – Owen is a hardworking player who loves the game and still plays for fun at the club.
| |||
| Ep 80 Matthew Granovetter: Bridge Mystic | 18 Sep 2024 | 01:50:05 | |
Matthew Granovetter is a six-time NABC champion. He also won a world championship, the Mixed Pairs, in 2006. He is a popular author and teacher, along with his wife, Pamela. They are best known for their theories on bidding via their system GUS (Granovetter Unified System) and their books on defensive play. Matthew is Hasidic (a branch of Orthodox Judaism); his spirituality is woven throughout his life and bridge – the two are inseparable. His latest book on Method Bridge is his proudest contribution to the game. | |||
| Episode 79: Boss Ladies of Bridge – Ladawna Parham and Bronia Jenkins | 02 Aug 2024 | 00:54:10 | |
Just before the Toronto NABC, John sat down with Ladawna Parham, executive director of the ACBL Educational Foundation, and Bronia Jenkins, executive director of the ACBL. Jenkins, "one year in," still has the energy and vision she started with, if not more. Parham, who took the position in November, has had to start from the ground up, with no bridge experience (although she did do her own research prior to getting the job). She is amazed at the depth and vitality of the bridge world. Listen to how these two women are working together within their organizations to engage and empower those who want to bring bridge to the masses.
| |||
| Ep. 78 - Gavin Wolpert is committed to making you the best bridge player you can be! | 30 Jun 2024 | 01:14:18 | |
John welcomes back his first-ever guest, Gavin Wolpert, a seven-time NABC winner, including the 2021 Soloway Knockout and the 2005 Blue Ribbon Pairs with his wife, Jenny, and a two-time bronze medal winner in Open World Championships. Gavin is one of the internet's favorite Bridge teachers, using interactive problems to allow students to make mistakes and learn from them, emphasizing practice as an essential component in becoming a better bridge player, and implementing technology to provide opportunities for targeted practice. Gavin shares his thoughts on the need for more structured and accessible bridge programs for kids and families at national tournaments. He discusses the importance of enticing kids to play bridge and creating a fun environment for them, and that bridge can help kids develop respect for older people and learn how to interact with them better.
| |||
| Ep. 77 - You Want Aaron "Silversetin" to Be Your Bridge Mentor | 17 Jun 2024 | 01:33:00 | |
Today, my guest is in-demand tournament player, winner of one of Bridge's crown jewels, the 2022 Vanderbilt, club owner, multiple club owner, and Junior Bridge mentor extraordinaire, Aaron Silverstein. Aaron played in the first ever Junior World Championships in 1987, and his daughter, Avery, playing on a team that he mentored, won a silver medal in the 2023 Junior World Championships. See just how much has changed when it comes to Junior Bridge. Getting Aaron's perspective as a club owner was really insightful for me, and I think you'll be surprised at who Aaron wants to partner when he plays in one of his own club games. Finally, Aaron is very candid about what it's like to have his main tournament partner win a mixed world championship without him, and playing in tournaments at the highest level, and I think provides some great insight into how to think about your own partnership and teammates.
| |||
| Ep. 76: Simon de Wijs – Bridge's Vault Keeps all Secrets | 29 May 2024 | 01:15:29 | |
My guest is Simon de Wijs from the Netherlands. Simon has a great bridge resume. He has won the Bermuda Bowl, the Olympiad, the mixed World Championship, and multiple European championships. He is a mainstay on the Dutch national team, always one of the favorites in open competition. At the recent Louisville NABC, Simon showed up with his twin 19-year-old daughters, who are budding experts. Find out how his relationship with them has changed since they got the bridge bug (by the way they made the Dutch mixed team for the upcoming European championships). Recently at the NABCs, Simon has been playing on the Goodman team. They are one of the hottest teams in the world, having made it to the semifinals of the last two Vanderbilts and the last Soloway.
| |||
| Ep. 75 - Brian Platnick - Can Tell You if You're a World Class Bridge Player | 20 May 2024 | 01:20:28 | |
Today my guest is Brian Platnick. He's a world champion (1991 World Junior Teams and 2010 Rosenblum Cup) with six NABC+ titles, including two Spingold wins (2010, 2017) and a victory in the Blue Ribbon Pairs (2012). Brian is a perfect example of what inspires this podcast: the opportunity to have longer-form conversations with fascinating bridge players. The genesis for this episode was getting eliminated from the United States Bridge Championships, by Brian's team, for the second year in a row. I had too much fun talking with Brian and wasn't focused enough on winning! If you've ever wondered if you're a world-class player, Brian has a formula for deciding (Hint, I'm not.) He also speaks candidly about where he sees himself amongst some of the best in the game. We talk about EDGAR (Everyone Deserves a Game Above Reproach), the anti-cheating software that he and Franco Baseggio have created that is now in use, testing an incredible number of online deals. Anyone who likes hearing me laugh will greatly enjoy this episode. Brian kept cracking me up! | |||
| Ep 74: Event Review with Sophia Baldysz | 14 Mar 2024 | 00:24:00 | |
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. | |||
| Ep 73 Rise and Fly! Lamont Jones and The Gist of Bid Whist | 09 Mar 2024 | 01:00:11 | |
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.
| |||
| Ep 72: John Got Hired! | 06 Mar 2024 | 00:11:15 | |
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. | |||
| Ep 71 Morten Bilde: Introducing the Card Game Bridge to Young People | 29 Feb 2024 | 01:11:50 | |
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.
| |||
| Ep 70 Matthew Brown: High Compatibility in the Card Game Bridge | 14 Feb 2024 | 01:17:54 | |
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.
| |||
| 69 John Solo - This is the Song About Bridge | 18 Jan 2024 | 00:09:11 | |
Ever wonder about the theme music that accompanies The Setting Trick and Double Dummy? Listen to this bonus episode, the first of John telling stories about the genesis of his bridge media. | |||
| 68 Game On – The Card Game Bridge Needs More People Like Steve Raine | 06 Jan 2024 | 01:32:18 | |
The Setting Trick | |||
| 67 Bonnie Gellas - The Beginners Bridge Teacher | 15 Dec 2023 | 01:01:45 | |
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.
| |||
| 66 Alex Kolesnik: Bridge Dad + | 12 Dec 2023 | 01:25:54 | |
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.
| |||
| 65 Nathan Gong - A Junior Ambassador for New Bridge Players | 27 Oct 2023 | 01:20:01 | |
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.
| |||
| Amber Lin - Bridge's Wonder Woman Part 2 | 30 Sep 2023 | 00:57:54 | |
- | |||
| 64 Amber Lin - Bridge's Wonder Woman | 28 Sep 2023 | 00:29:58 | |
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.
| |||