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.

___________________________________________________________________

🏆 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.

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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:

• 🌟 From Neighbors to Teammates: How growing up just 200 meters apart led to a lifelong friendship and eventual bridge partnership.

• 🏆 Venice Cup Debut: Their first appearance on Denmark's women's national team — finishing 5th in qualification and nearly upsetting China.

• 🎉 Champions Cup Drama: The heartbreak of an 88–88 tie decided on a technicality — and why they're determined to come back stronger.

• ❤️ Bridge & Boyfriends: Both partners found love through the game and share how bridge shapes their relationships.

• 😂 Badminton Battles & Bloopers: From live-streamed badminton matches against the Bilde brothers to funny tournament moments.

• 📸 Building Junior Bridge DK: How their Instagram page is helping grow the game — and how they're planning to secure a Pepsi Max sponsorship.

Resources & Next Steps:

• 📲 Follow Ella & Julie's journey on Junior Bridge DK Instagram

• 📰 Learn more about the Venice Cup and international women's bridge events

• 🎥 Watch the documentary Double Dummy featuring the USA junior team (with familiar faces from their opponents!)

• 🎤 Catch up on past episodes featuring Christina Lund Madsen and other Danish stars

• 🎧 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.

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

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.

• 🎉 A Bridge Friendship for the Ages – John and Svenni met at the Icelandic Bridge Festival and went on to win their first NABC title as partners.

• 🚗 The Infamous Car Rental Saga – A botched pickup turned Icelandic comedy of errors that somehow involved loaning one's wife's car to a virtual stranger.

• 🏆 From 9 VPs to Victory – After a disastrous start in the Soloway, their comeback led to a dramatic NABC win at the Mitchell BAM.

• 🇮🇸 Leaving Iceland for Bridge – Svenni moved to Florida for a directing job and ended up becoming a full-time pro player, thanks in part to the Cappelletti' hospitality.

• 🤝 More Than Just Cards – From laughter to late-night dinners, Svenni reminds us that the best parts of bridge are often the people.

• 🧠 Visualization and Technique – Why Trump Coups come easy to Svenni, and how different minds see bridge differently.

• 🥶 Hot Springs and Spiked Tires – John and Svenni share Iceland travel stories, winter driving, and sausage shelf life.

• 🏀 From OKC Fan to Life Philosopher – What NBA playoffs, bingo taunts, and emotional regulation all say about life at the table and beyond.

• 📘 Book Mentioned: 30 Minutes to Precision by C.C. Wei

• 🎧 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.
  
  

Adam Wildavsky is recognized as a Grand Life Master by the American Contract Bridge League. He has represented the United States finishing as high as third in the Bermuda Bowl and won the Reisinger Board a Match teams partnering Doug Doub with whom he had not even planned on initially playing the event. 

In addition to my conversation with Adam we have bridge superstar Zia Mahmood discussing a bidding problem shared with me from my friend Anindra Sarkar.

Zach Grossack can play. He could do so as a fifteen year old star of Double Dummy

Now as a twenty year old, he is developing into one of the world's best. He and older brother Adam Grossack form one of the top young partnerships in the world. In this wide ranging conversation, Zach is both insightful and playful, much like he is at the table.

Here are some highlights:

9:18 - Get Zach's thoughts on Danish starlet Christina Lund Madsen, including playing with her when she almost called the director on him.

15:38 - How Zach feels like he missed the golden age of professional bridge.

20:33 - On what Zach is doing to help bring new players into the game including starting a bridge club at Tufts, and how it takes so much time before one can even say that they "suck" at bridge.

29:35 - Adam Grossack might like it here where Zach refers to himself as a, "professional projector."

30:18 - How Zach and his brother Zach recovered from almost not qualifying for the finals of the NAPs to winning in Philadelphia in March, including Adam and Zach's partnership rule on Adam tanking and what it's like to play with your brother.

38:38 - How you put into practice the age old rule about not talking about hands during the game.

48:15 - Learn about Zach's previous experience with podcasting.

51:37 - Double Dummy is going to be available through Tugg.com more likely May 11 for screenings, including Cinema-on-Demand.

59:53 - Zach's backup plans if being a bridge pro does not work out.

1:07:23 - Best win of Zach's career to date in his mind.

1:11:05 - Listen as Zach hatches his plan to keep me from ever becoming a Platinum Life Master.

1:19:32 - Zach's bridge hero, playing against him and with him.

Enjoy!

I first met Migry at the Phoenix NABC in the Fall of 2013. Shortly thereafter I received an email from Christina Lund Madsen asking if I wanted to hire her and Dennis Bilde for the 2014 World Mixed Teams Championship. My only concern became finding a female partner. Christina suggested Migry and thus a great friendship born.

Migry is no shrinking violet!  She has been a best friend, confidante, substitute mother, bridge partner and sounding board ever since we had lunch together on January 27th, 2014, her birthday, in New York City. We agreed to play the Mixed portion of the world championships together and after coming in 12th in the platinum pairs the entire 2014 World Bridge Series and cycle.

I have had some of my best results partnering Migry. She is a pleasure to play with and has a fantastic sense of humor. We love to laugh together. She continues to have great one liners, such as at the when I asked her about playing the Nickell team in the recent Vanderbilt. "We are not here to kibitz the opponents."

I have spent countless evenings at her New York City apartment talking about bridge and life with her and her equally delightful husband Pietro Campanile.

Our partnership almost never got off the ground because I had such difficulty understanding her on the phone initially. Migry did express concern about this for our listeners when I first asked her about doing the interview. One evening, over dinner, a waitress asked Migry what language she was speaking. Migry handled it with her typical grace and aplomb. 

Through our time playing together Migry has graciously introduced me to countless friends of hers throughout the bridge world who I am now lucky enough to call friends as well. I am grateful that at no point during the interview did she call me by my one time nickname, "Baby John," and consider this an excellent sign of my increasing maturity.

Bob Hamman requires no introduction in bridge circles. His name is synonymous with success at the games highest level. Find out what makes him such a dynamic personality away from the table in this rare conversation.

Gavin is a top professional bridge player who has represented both the United States and Canada in international competition. He is also the founder of bridgewinners.com a fantastic resource for learning the game. In our wide ranging discussion he talks about psychology at the table, including not underestimating your opponents, conserving energy, great plays and overcoming mistakes. How he changes his strategy when the situation dictates and how he generally plays to avoid making errors.

I really appreciate Gavin for sharing so generously of his time and being my first guest.

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.

🥇 Lynn won two events at the Spring NABC — including her first 10K title after finishing second the year before

🧣 Her Women's Swiss team wore matching scarves — her signature touch as team captain

🎲 She met her mixed partner Aly by chance on Bridge Base during COVID

💥 One highlight of the Women's Swiss: a gutsy 4♠ bid leading to a +1100 against a pro

🌎 Lynn played international events like Four Jacks in Dubai, repping the US

🧠 She's constantly learning — like practicing hand patterns and soaking up insights from partners like Greg Hinze and Christian Lahrmann

😂 Her signature laugh is well-known, and she isn't afraid to bring humor and lightness to even the most competitive tables

• 🎧 More Stories Like This – Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge.

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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.

🏆 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

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Andrew Robson describes Dennis as the best player in Denmark

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. 

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. 

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.

 👶 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.

 📅 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.

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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

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 

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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

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

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:

• 🃏 From Poker to Bridge: Emanuel's journey from card games and Settlers of Catan to finding bridge at 25 and never looking back.
  
  

• 💡 The Birth of Cue Bids: How a simple coding project grew into a global app used daily by pros to sharpen their bidding.
  
  

• 📊 Leak Finder: The newest feature that compares your bidding accuracy to the field — and why it's become Emanuel's favorite tool.
  
  

• 🤝 Bridge & Community: Stories of making friends, teaming up with Swedish stars, and even meeting his wife through the game.
  
  

• 🌍 The Underdog Upset: Emanuel's favorite bridge memory — knocking out a top seed at the Spingold in Toronto.
  
  

• 🔮 Dream Features: From teaching beginners to building world-class robots, Emanuel imagines what unlimited resources could bring to bridge tech.

Resources & Next Steps:

• 📲 Try Cue Bids for yourself: cuebids.com
  
  

• 🎤 Join the Cue Bids Discord to share feedback and connect with other players
  
  

• 📰 Read Kaplan Upsets Struul: A Tale from an Underdog on Bridge Winners (co-written by Emanuel's wife, Erika)
  
  

• 👀 Follow Emanuel's updates and Cue Bids features on Bridge Winners and social media

Episode Breakdown:

• 0:00 Start

• 0:00 Emanuel's late start in bridge at 25 and how it changed his life

• 0:01 Meeting his wife through bridge and creating Cue Bids

• 1:25 Why many pros practice on Cue Bids daily

• 1:38 Emanuel's background: family, math, computers, and games

• 2:26 First bridge lesson and early enthusiasm from other players

• 4:10 Friendships and first partners in bridge (Erica, Clara, Simon Beck, Fredrik Alfredson)

• 7:28 Playing with Erica, moving to London, and eventually marrying her

• 8:07 Career as a developer and passion for board games (Settlers of Catan)

• 9:54 Moving to London for consulting work and balancing bridge & relationships

• 12:08 How Cue Bids began as a coding side project and proof of concept

• 13:59 Partnering with Daniel Goldberg to build Cue Bids into a real product

• 17:37 Launching features like Leak Finder and how it works

• 20:54 Community feedback and feature growth (Discord, events, pro challenges)

• 23:18 How top players use Cue Bids in practice and events

• 25:16 Fixing scoring quirks and improving simulation accuracy

• 27:54 Ranked challenges, Jack/Queen/King/Ace system, and ELO scoring

• 33:01 Working full-time on Cue Bids and why Emanuel turned down big tech jobs

• 37:02 His dream feature: beginner bidding courses & stronger robots

• 45:52 Cue Bids growth to 25,000+ users and partnerships (Lea robot, InBridge)

• 52:57 Emanuel's greatest bridge memory: the Toronto upset vs. Strul

• 1:27:07 Closing thoughts, Bill Gates hopes, and plans for San Francisco

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!"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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!

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:

• ✍️ Stories That Stick: In her writing, Christina aims to uncover the humor, heartbreak, and humanity of bridge. Here she captures the essence of bridge icon Zia Mahmood.
  
  

• 🌍 On the World Stage: Memorable moments from competing internationally and what those experiences taught her.
  
  

• 🎭 Behind the Curtain: The pressures and rewards of finding students/sponsors to play in top-level tournaments around the globe.
  
  

• 👩‍👧 Life Off the Table: How motherhood and divorce reshaped her identity and her approach to competition.
  
  

• ❤️ The Real Wins: Why Christina believes friendships, stories, and joy outlast medals and rankings.

Resources & Next Steps:

• 🌟 Support women in bridge.
  
  

• 🎧 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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:

• 🍽️ Food Adventures: The seeds for this episode took place between rounds of the European championships. David had just launched his Instagram account, sharing behind-the-scenes footage from kitchens and his unique experiences trying new cuisines while traveling for bridge tournaments.

• 🃏 Legendary Partnerships: Dive into David's experiences playing with bridge legends Zia Mahmood and Andrew Robson, including arguably one of the better bid hands of all-time, an unforgettable seven-diamond contract.

• 🏅 Bridge Career Reflections: David reflects on significant milestones, such as finishing second in the 2008 Olympiad, emphasizing how rare these opportunities can be.

• 👨‍👧‍👦 Family Life: David shares the joys and humor of parenting two young children and how family life balances with the competitive bridge scene.

• 🎬 Creating Content: Hear about David's journey into social media content creation, his philosophy of storytelling through food, and his inspirations, including the legendary Anthony Bourdain.

Resources & Next Steps:

• Stay tuned for his upcoming bridge competitions, including the Bermuda Bowl and North American Bridge Championships.

• Explore David's recommended eateries and hidden food gems around the globe.

• 🎧 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.

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.

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!

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

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

Play in the SPARK Pro-Am with and against your favorite Setting Trick guests.

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. 

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/

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

Resources

Connect with Selena

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/selena-pepic/ 

                 bridgewinners.com/profile/selena-pepic/