The Setting Trick: Conversations with World Class Bridge Players

Available Episodes

5 of 100

Ep. 99: The Setting Trick podcast with Sartaj Hans
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1:29:32
Ep. 98: From Control Room to Card Table: Tracy Brines' Unique Journey in Bridge and Nuclear Power
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: ⚓ From Navy to Nuclear: Tracy explains how rigorous Navy training prepared him for high-pressure roles in nuclear plant operations, where critical thinking and error prevention are paramount. 🔥 Critical Moments: Discover Tracy’s most intense experiences in nuclear operations, including emergency reactor shutdowns and managing complex safety protocols. 🃏 Bridge & Life Lessons: Tracy draws insightful parallels between nuclear safety protocols and bridge strategies, highlighting error prevention, risk assessment, and maintaining composure. 🏆 Competitive Drive: Listen to Tracy's experiences at national bridge events, including memorable matches against elite players, and his continuous pursuit of improvement. ❤️ Family and Bridge: Tracy shares humorous anecdotes about teaching bridge to his wife Maureen, their competitive dynamics, and their successes at tournaments. Resources & Next Steps: Follow Tracy's bridge journey at upcoming national events, including the prestigious Spingold. Explore Tracy's recommended readings, such as Mike Lawrence’s bridge strategy books. 🎧 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.
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1:10:50
Ep. 97: From Hearts to Champion: John McAllister’s Personal Bridge Odyssey
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: 🎲 First Steps in Bridge: Discover how a casual game with family sparked John's lifelong passion for bridge. 🌉 Learning the Ropes: John recalls early mentorship from Chouky Neal and playing with promising talents like Jason Holderness. 🏆 Breakthrough Moments: Relive John's first significant tournament victory at the NABC and his ambitious venture into international competition. 🤝 Influential Connections: Hear stories about bridge legends and mentors like Gavin Wolpert, Jeff Hand, George Mittelman, and the late Eric Kokish. 💰 Rubber Bridge Adventures: John humorously shares his first encounter playing rubber bridge in London, meeting Zia Mahmood, and the memorable experience of cash winnings. 🌟 Major Wins: John reflects on his notable victories, including the Mitchell Board-a-Match, the Mixed Swiss, and the WBT Reykjavik Masters. 🃏 Friendship and Growth: Learn how playing with friends like Lilly Justman helped sharpen John’s competitive edge and joy for bridge. Resources & Next Steps: Follow John’s upcoming journey at the European Championships. Explore John’s documentary Double Dummy for deeper insights into 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.
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18:35
Ep. 96: From Underdogs to USA-1: Inside Adam Grossack’s Epic Bridge Victory
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: 🎯 Strategic Team Building: Adam reveals why pairing with veteran Eddie Wold and allowing younger teammates Adam Kaplan and Finn to sort out their partnership proved crucial. 🔥 Tension and Triumph: Relive intense matches against top teams like Nickel and Wolfson, and discover how Adam and his teammates maintained focus even during massive leads. 👏 Celebrating Comebacks: Learn how Adam Kaplan's return to competitive bridge after a five-year hiatus helped propel the team to victory. 😂 Behind the Scenes Humor: Adam shares hilarious anecdotes involving bridge legends, including humorous interactions with Jeff Meckstroth and Zia Mahmood. 💍 Personal Milestones: Beyond bridge, Adam discusses wedding preparations, playing bridge with his fiancée, and the balancing act between professional and personal life. Resources & Next Steps: Follow the team's journey at the upcoming Bermuda Bowl in Denmark. USBF Credentials Committee 🎧 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.
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59:31
Ep. 95: Cheating, Convictions, and Compassion: Inside the American Contract Bridge League’s Recorder's Office with Jeff Edelstein
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: 🎖️ Grand Life Master: Jeff Edelstein shares his journey, including winning the North American Pairs with Matthew Weingarten. 🧑‍⚖️ What Does a Recorder Do? – Edelstein explains his role in investigating player memos, and what happens once a complaint is filed. 📊 Edgar's Precision – Learn about Edgar, a powerful detection software designed by Franco Baseggio and Brian Platnick, which analyzes bridge hands for cheating patterns. 🕵️ Manual Investigation vs. Edgar – Edelstein describes the painstaking manual review process compared to Edgar’s lightning-fast analysis. ⚠️ Real-life Consequences – Jeff shares the story of John’s misconduct, highlighting how disciplinary processes affect players. ❤️ Compassion in Discipline – Edelstein discusses shifting from a strict disciplinary perspective to embracing compassion and rehabilitation. 🗣️ Proper Conduct – What constitutes ethical breaches and how to appropriately address suspected cheating or misconduct at the table. 🚨 Changes in ACBL Discipline – How Edgar has transformed disciplinary processes from handling a few cases monthly to managing hundreds. 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.
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1:12:43