In the Well: Justin Lall
Entering the Well today is Justin Lall, aka jlall. Only 28 years old, Justin has an incredible list of accomplishments for one so young. He has already made a Bermuda Bowl final, won 4 national championships, and is the youngest-ever Grand Life Master, a rank few will ever attain (10,000 masterpoints and a national title). Fresh off a victory in the 2014 Blue Ribbon Pairs partnering John Hurd, today he enters the Well to answer your questions.232 Comments
Welcome to the Well, Justin! :)
Have you played with Bob Hamman since your Platinum Pair victory in 2012? Did you have a favorite hand from the Event (such as doubling Brian Platnick in 3♦ for +200 after Hamman opened the dreaded Flannery?).
Have you played with Bob Hamman since your Platinum Pair victory in 2012? Did you have a favorite hand from the Event (such as doubling Brian Platnick in 3♦ for +200 after Hamman opened the dreaded Flannery?).
Jan. 14, 2015
Gary Hann edited this comment Jan. 14, 2015
Hi Gary,
Bob and I played the next cycle after that win. The highlight was being third in the Reisinger. We were nowhere and the Zimmerman team was like 4-5 boards ahead of us with one session to go. This event is a barometer, and from nowhere we had a shot with 1 round to go. Unfortunately we did poorly in the last round; we couldn't win but we could have been second. Still, I was proud of third in such a tough event.
Unfortunately the imp events didn't go so well for us lol.
I am not sure if I remember any hands from the Plat Pairs win, but I do remember in the last round we played the pair in second, my good friends Ishmael Del Monte and Thomas Bessis. Thomas tried to hide his honors so that Bob would not know to drop the stiff K of trumps, but Bob knew based on that that it must be stiff K of trumps and dropped it! Bridge at the top.
It is really an amazing experience to be Bob's partner and see him in action. He has seen it all and really just seemingly effortlessly makes the right play.
Bob and I played the next cycle after that win. The highlight was being third in the Reisinger. We were nowhere and the Zimmerman team was like 4-5 boards ahead of us with one session to go. This event is a barometer, and from nowhere we had a shot with 1 round to go. Unfortunately we did poorly in the last round; we couldn't win but we could have been second. Still, I was proud of third in such a tough event.
Unfortunately the imp events didn't go so well for us lol.
I am not sure if I remember any hands from the Plat Pairs win, but I do remember in the last round we played the pair in second, my good friends Ishmael Del Monte and Thomas Bessis. Thomas tried to hide his honors so that Bob would not know to drop the stiff K of trumps, but Bob knew based on that that it must be stiff K of trumps and dropped it! Bridge at the top.
It is really an amazing experience to be Bob's partner and see him in action. He has seen it all and really just seemingly effortlessly makes the right play.
Jan. 14, 2015
Nice, an early start. Since I'm sure everyone will ask you lots of bridge-related questions, I'll go the other way.
1. Who is the real jlall and why?
2. Please explain the debate about the competing ways to eat a pringle including all pros and cons of each mainstream method, and why yours is wrong.
3. What is your optimal temperature at home to set your thermostat?
Seriously you are one of my best friends. We have had more unique and funny experiences in the last 10 years than I can ever count, and there is no doubt I have learned more about bridge from you than anyone else I know, and maybe about life too in a weird way. I miss you, please come back!
1. Who is the real jlall and why?
2. Please explain the debate about the competing ways to eat a pringle including all pros and cons of each mainstream method, and why yours is wrong.
3. What is your optimal temperature at home to set your thermostat?
Seriously you are one of my best friends. We have had more unique and funny experiences in the last 10 years than I can ever count, and there is no doubt I have learned more about bridge from you than anyone else I know, and maybe about life too in a weird way. I miss you, please come back!
Jan. 14, 2015
Jdonn!
Your first question is really open ended! But for those who don't know, the joke stems from my sister (Jessica)'s friends calling her Jlall. I never knew this and she didn't know I was jlall so when she came to a national it was very amusing when people were yelling "jlall!" and she was looking around very confused.
I then went to LA where she lives and her friends called me "little Jlall." A big debate ensued, she said she was older, and I said I am more famous as Jlall. I would say this debate ended when I was recently in Dublin and I was at a random bar (called Flannery's amusingly enough) and a cute girl came up to me smiling. I felt great about myself and she said "Are you Jlall's brother???" Turns out one of my sister's friends was in Dublin at the same place as me and recognized me. So to answer Josh's question, I'd have to say my sister is the real Jlall. Hopefully she doesn't read this.
As far as the optimal way to eat a pringle, there is only one way. The side with the flavor should be down, so your tongue gets a burst of flavor. The other way, saddle side up as they say, is clearly inferior.
As far as optimal temperature, as my bridge partners know at a hotel 65 is standard and it's really still too hot. Some places go down to 60 and it's nice. At home it seems different, mainly because you have to pay for the AC. I don't know what my optimal temperature is then so I enlisted the help of my girlfriend Stef. She said 69.
Your first question is really open ended! But for those who don't know, the joke stems from my sister (Jessica)'s friends calling her Jlall. I never knew this and she didn't know I was jlall so when she came to a national it was very amusing when people were yelling "jlall!" and she was looking around very confused.
I then went to LA where she lives and her friends called me "little Jlall." A big debate ensued, she said she was older, and I said I am more famous as Jlall. I would say this debate ended when I was recently in Dublin and I was at a random bar (called Flannery's amusingly enough) and a cute girl came up to me smiling. I felt great about myself and she said "Are you Jlall's brother???" Turns out one of my sister's friends was in Dublin at the same place as me and recognized me. So to answer Josh's question, I'd have to say my sister is the real Jlall. Hopefully she doesn't read this.
As far as the optimal way to eat a pringle, there is only one way. The side with the flavor should be down, so your tongue gets a burst of flavor. The other way, saddle side up as they say, is clearly inferior.
As far as optimal temperature, as my bridge partners know at a hotel 65 is standard and it's really still too hot. Some places go down to 60 and it's nice. At home it seems different, mainly because you have to pay for the AC. I don't know what my optimal temperature is then so I enlisted the help of my girlfriend Stef. She said 69.
Jan. 14, 2015
Justin, are you playing in an MABC regional so I can watch you play? I have proof I am not the "Cooler" as David Bahkshi gave me his winning T-shirt from Charleston.
Good luck this year.
Good luck this year.
Jan. 14, 2015
Just so everyone knows, Bill is THE COOLER! I hate to say it but I have never won a match with him watching. I like him enough that I don't bar him, but I secretly pay him to kibitz my enemies/rivals.
Cooler, I will be playing some MABC's but no chance I let you know which! Despite that, if I see you I'll happily buy you a drink lol.
Cooler, I will be playing some MABC's but no chance I let you know which! Despite that, if I see you I'll happily buy you a drink lol.
Jan. 14, 2015
For a gin and tonic I would like Beefeaters or Tanquery. This is what the Chaplain bought me at the Officers Club. I prefer Jamesons or Tullamore Dew in whiskey. Thanks for offering to buy a round.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin!
Have learned much from your blog and BBO postings. Thanks! I hope you'll contribute here often, too. Can't wait!
My questions:
1) How did you get started in Bridge? What made you pursue the game?
2) What goals do you have for yourself now?
3) Where do you see bidding system innovation heading? What's best today?
4) What can we all do to attract and hold young players (College age)?
5) What avoidable mistakes do advanced players commonly make?
Have learned much from your blog and BBO postings. Thanks! I hope you'll contribute here often, too. Can't wait!
My questions:
1) How did you get started in Bridge? What made you pursue the game?
2) What goals do you have for yourself now?
3) Where do you see bidding system innovation heading? What's best today?
4) What can we all do to attract and hold young players (College age)?
5) What avoidable mistakes do advanced players commonly make?
Jan. 14, 2015
Hi Steve,
1) Actually, my parents made me go to the club because their friends who "knew me" since I was born wanted to see me. I was 10. I ended up getting roped into a supervised 0-5 game with no bridge experience (today, it seems like a setup!). I ended up third, and as a 10 year old I couldn't understand how I could lose to people old enough to be my grandparents! I had played lots of hearts and spades so understood cardplay but had no experience with bidding.
Anyways, I went home and read five weeks to winning bridge. My dad ended up playing with me at the club and gave me one rule: don't pull my 3N. Naturally the first time he bid 3N I had 8 clubs and pulled it. So it goes. I pursued the game because I loved it and I sucked!
2) My long term goal is to be the best player in the world. Lots of great talented people have that goal so it's a lofty one, but it's the one that keeps me going. I believe I am far from it right now but I am young and I am learning and I out of necessity believe I will achieve it one day. My shorter term goals are winning major team events and representing USA in open competition.
3) Bidding has a long way to go. I believe a lot of transfer auctions and competitive innovations have not been realized yet. Simple things like 1H X 2C 4H, that should be a transfer to 4S, maybe something like xxx clubs where you don't want to bid 4S and get a club lead. It's simple but no one plays that yet. I think transfers in competitive bidding are the future (even though a lot are already here)
4) I don't know, but college kids are attracted to things like money, all expenses paid trips, meeting other likeminded people, and competing at a high level/being respected. I would market those parts of the game. In USA there is a great junior program with great benefits and those should benefits should be aggressively promoted IMO. The junior program gave me some of the best experiences in my life. From that a lot of people will just love the game and continue with it. But I think it's the wrong strategy to market the benefits and beauty of the game, those are great but they are not selling points. Those are retention points.
5) Advanced players try to get too fancy. They read too many atypical winning plays/fancy stuff. Top level bridge is actually 99 % of the time boring. We count. We do normal things. That 1 % is what you read about though and it isn't representative of real grinding top level bridge. Do what is nromal and right all the time and you will be a really really good bridge player. What makes advanced players good is that they know what is normal, but they try to deviate from that out of boredom or out of ego to show they know great plays or whatever, and it's the wrong spot. Try to always do the percentage thing, the difference in great and good is the knowledge of when to go against the percentages but that is such a minor thing, just like the difference in good and great is.
1) Actually, my parents made me go to the club because their friends who "knew me" since I was born wanted to see me. I was 10. I ended up getting roped into a supervised 0-5 game with no bridge experience (today, it seems like a setup!). I ended up third, and as a 10 year old I couldn't understand how I could lose to people old enough to be my grandparents! I had played lots of hearts and spades so understood cardplay but had no experience with bidding.
Anyways, I went home and read five weeks to winning bridge. My dad ended up playing with me at the club and gave me one rule: don't pull my 3N. Naturally the first time he bid 3N I had 8 clubs and pulled it. So it goes. I pursued the game because I loved it and I sucked!
2) My long term goal is to be the best player in the world. Lots of great talented people have that goal so it's a lofty one, but it's the one that keeps me going. I believe I am far from it right now but I am young and I am learning and I out of necessity believe I will achieve it one day. My shorter term goals are winning major team events and representing USA in open competition.
3) Bidding has a long way to go. I believe a lot of transfer auctions and competitive innovations have not been realized yet. Simple things like 1H X 2C 4H, that should be a transfer to 4S, maybe something like xxx clubs where you don't want to bid 4S and get a club lead. It's simple but no one plays that yet. I think transfers in competitive bidding are the future (even though a lot are already here)
4) I don't know, but college kids are attracted to things like money, all expenses paid trips, meeting other likeminded people, and competing at a high level/being respected. I would market those parts of the game. In USA there is a great junior program with great benefits and those should benefits should be aggressively promoted IMO. The junior program gave me some of the best experiences in my life. From that a lot of people will just love the game and continue with it. But I think it's the wrong strategy to market the benefits and beauty of the game, those are great but they are not selling points. Those are retention points.
5) Advanced players try to get too fancy. They read too many atypical winning plays/fancy stuff. Top level bridge is actually 99 % of the time boring. We count. We do normal things. That 1 % is what you read about though and it isn't representative of real grinding top level bridge. Do what is nromal and right all the time and you will be a really really good bridge player. What makes advanced players good is that they know what is normal, but they try to deviate from that out of boredom or out of ego to show they know great plays or whatever, and it's the wrong spot. Try to always do the percentage thing, the difference in great and good is the knowledge of when to go against the percentages but that is such a minor thing, just like the difference in good and great is.
Jan. 14, 2015
Hi, Justin.
I would like to ask something about conventions. As I know, there is much improvement used by Europe teams after reverse bidding such as 1C-1S; 2H or else. But most Americans still use old style reverse bidding. Why? Because the limitation of ACBL or something else???
How do you see Augustin Madala -- you may have the chance to replace his youngest championship position!
In your view, what is the most important characteristic of a successful bridge player?
I would like to ask something about conventions. As I know, there is much improvement used by Europe teams after reverse bidding such as 1C-1S; 2H or else. But most Americans still use old style reverse bidding. Why? Because the limitation of ACBL or something else???
How do you see Augustin Madala -- you may have the chance to replace his youngest championship position!
In your view, what is the most important characteristic of a successful bridge player?
Jan. 14, 2015
C.-M. Chou edited this comment Jan. 14, 2015
Hi Chun-Ming,
A lot of the pro-euro style people would like to attribute the American style (or lack thereof) to system regulation. The truth is while the ACBL is very restrictive for lower level play, almost all events top players play are midchart or superchart which are not very restrictive. For instance, I played multi and transfer preempts with my dad but we decided they were losers long term against people who knew what they were doing.
The truth is American style has evolved differently from Euro style. I do not think one is right or wrong but both have merits.
I think the top US players who play natural have invested a lot of time into reverse auctions. I don't know if European style is different or how, but I think maybe the problem is a lot of the top US pairs who are on vugraph play precision (myself included).
As far as Madala, he is a truly great player and also roughly my age. We have not competed much against each other but he and his team did beat me by 1 this summer which was really brutal! I have nothing to say about him other than that he is a great player and a great guy.
A lot of the pro-euro style people would like to attribute the American style (or lack thereof) to system regulation. The truth is while the ACBL is very restrictive for lower level play, almost all events top players play are midchart or superchart which are not very restrictive. For instance, I played multi and transfer preempts with my dad but we decided they were losers long term against people who knew what they were doing.
The truth is American style has evolved differently from Euro style. I do not think one is right or wrong but both have merits.
I think the top US players who play natural have invested a lot of time into reverse auctions. I don't know if European style is different or how, but I think maybe the problem is a lot of the top US pairs who are on vugraph play precision (myself included).
As far as Madala, he is a truly great player and also roughly my age. We have not competed much against each other but he and his team did beat me by 1 this summer which was really brutal! I have nothing to say about him other than that he is a great player and a great guy.
Jan. 14, 2015
If a jlall was a standard unit of measurement for something, what would it be?
Jan. 14, 2015
Hi Justin
Do you ever think you will start blogging again? You have a funny and positive view that we all would enjoy reading.
Do you ever think you will start blogging again? You have a funny and positive view that we all would enjoy reading.
Jan. 14, 2015
Hi Daniel,
I don't think I will blog again. When I started blogging it was a new thing in the internet bridge community. I did it because I wanted to talk about untalked about things in bridge in a new medium. I have considered livestreaming bridge or doing video blogging, because that is what is relatively new and uncommon in the bridge world now.
Bridge blogs are common now and great players are doing so, not the least of which bridgewinners.
I enjoyed my time blogging and got great feedback. If I'm not too lazy I think a video format will get equally good feedback and have strongly considered doing that. Something like a twitch stream playing robot duplicates on BBO or whatever.
I don't think I will blog again. When I started blogging it was a new thing in the internet bridge community. I did it because I wanted to talk about untalked about things in bridge in a new medium. I have considered livestreaming bridge or doing video blogging, because that is what is relatively new and uncommon in the bridge world now.
Bridge blogs are common now and great players are doing so, not the least of which bridgewinners.
I enjoyed my time blogging and got great feedback. If I'm not too lazy I think a video format will get equally good feedback and have strongly considered doing that. Something like a twitch stream playing robot duplicates on BBO or whatever.
Jan. 14, 2015
BBO on twitch would be awesome--definitely publicize it if you decide to do that.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin, the first time I played against you was in Birmingham in 2000, you must have been 13 or so. I took a long time to pass partner's 4♠ (because I was thinking of bidding slam) and even then you had the wherewithal to double in the passout seat hoping he'd run to 5♣, which he did. Even though I'm still a little ticked, I knew then you'd be a fabulous player, so congratulations on your success.
1)What is your preferred bidding system, other than just opening 1NT on every hand?
B)You've done very well with lots of different partners. What do you think are the most important aspects of being a good partner?
iii) Do you think you could carry Tony Romo to a national championship, or would he choke in the final?
1)What is your preferred bidding system, other than just opening 1NT on every hand?
B)You've done very well with lots of different partners. What do you think are the most important aspects of being a good partner?
iii) Do you think you could carry Tony Romo to a national championship, or would he choke in the final?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin,
Do you plan to write a bridge book in the future?
Do you plan to write a bridge book in the future?
Jan. 15, 2015
What's up JLall? Cheers for jumping in the Well!
1. Almost 9 years ago now you posted an excellent article on how to improve your bridge game (http://justinlall.com/2006/04/26/how-to-improve-your-game/). How much of your own advice have you followed? Regarding improving your mental game, what have been the biggest improvements you have made and how did you improve yourself in that area?
2. The more I play with/against top players, the more often I hear about great carding agreements to solve spots which aren't 'standard' or part of the textbook literature. What cool expert carding agreements can you share with us which most people won't have thought about?
1. Almost 9 years ago now you posted an excellent article on how to improve your bridge game (http://justinlall.com/2006/04/26/how-to-improve-your-game/). How much of your own advice have you followed? Regarding improving your mental game, what have been the biggest improvements you have made and how did you improve yourself in that area?
2. The more I play with/against top players, the more often I hear about great carding agreements to solve spots which aren't 'standard' or part of the textbook literature. What cool expert carding agreements can you share with us which most people won't have thought about?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Liam,
First congrats on your great result in the World Open Pairs. I wasn't surprised but I was happy for you!
1) I can't believe it's been 9 years! You just made me feel old lol. I still try to follow the basic theory of play lots, evaluate your play, and plug your leaks. In some ways leaks are harder to find now, but in some ways they are easier. My leaks are less costly now, but the more I play the more I think that I am making bad errors. The more each theme that costs seems like it is really costly.
Last week I played and I raised my partner (Kevin Bathurst) on a really defensive hand when he opened w/r first seat with 3S. Like Txx QJ9xx AJ9 xx. Kevin is really solid but w/r in first seat he is aggressive which I really think is the right way to play. But I just raised blindly. My hand is a terrible hand to raise, my partner does not have the hand I am hoping for at this vul (he would open 4). Meanwhile I have great defense vs 3N or 4h. True 4S could blow them out sometimes but how do you feel when it goes X AP? You have all defense and no offense. I remembered that I have raised him a couple of times when it's silly in that spot. So it is definitely a leak, and it's possible my partner will stop making good preempts since I'm raising on such silly hands. So I told him this is a leak and I'm plugging it, and it felt really gratifying. Every time I learn something I'm doing wrong, it feels like a huge victory.
So yeah I definitely still play a lot and evaluate my game to try and find leaks. There is a lot of noise, you have to figure out if you were unlucky or if you actually are playing badly, but talking over the hands with my peers helps a lot with that. The key is to stay humble and realize you are still learning no matter where you are in your bridge development. If you are arrogant it is easy to chalk up your bad results to bad luck, just like poker.
2) I don't think there is one great agreement or big fix, but I agree top players have really good carding agreements and know the hands earlier than amateurs. The hard part of bridge is not what to do when you know the hand, it's figuring out the hand. I'd say in general things like suit preference in trumps or in solid dummy suits etc are the biggest gains (and doing them consistently). It is not flashy and you know those agreeements, but do you always make those signals and trust your partner do so? If you do, great, if not then get more consistent with them. The early play and signalling is super important and if you pass no info to your partner you have failed. Of course you have to balance that against possibly telling declarer the hand; that is the hard part.
First congrats on your great result in the World Open Pairs. I wasn't surprised but I was happy for you!
1) I can't believe it's been 9 years! You just made me feel old lol. I still try to follow the basic theory of play lots, evaluate your play, and plug your leaks. In some ways leaks are harder to find now, but in some ways they are easier. My leaks are less costly now, but the more I play the more I think that I am making bad errors. The more each theme that costs seems like it is really costly.
Last week I played and I raised my partner (Kevin Bathurst) on a really defensive hand when he opened w/r first seat with 3S. Like Txx QJ9xx AJ9 xx. Kevin is really solid but w/r in first seat he is aggressive which I really think is the right way to play. But I just raised blindly. My hand is a terrible hand to raise, my partner does not have the hand I am hoping for at this vul (he would open 4). Meanwhile I have great defense vs 3N or 4h. True 4S could blow them out sometimes but how do you feel when it goes X AP? You have all defense and no offense. I remembered that I have raised him a couple of times when it's silly in that spot. So it is definitely a leak, and it's possible my partner will stop making good preempts since I'm raising on such silly hands. So I told him this is a leak and I'm plugging it, and it felt really gratifying. Every time I learn something I'm doing wrong, it feels like a huge victory.
So yeah I definitely still play a lot and evaluate my game to try and find leaks. There is a lot of noise, you have to figure out if you were unlucky or if you actually are playing badly, but talking over the hands with my peers helps a lot with that. The key is to stay humble and realize you are still learning no matter where you are in your bridge development. If you are arrogant it is easy to chalk up your bad results to bad luck, just like poker.
2) I don't think there is one great agreement or big fix, but I agree top players have really good carding agreements and know the hands earlier than amateurs. The hard part of bridge is not what to do when you know the hand, it's figuring out the hand. I'd say in general things like suit preference in trumps or in solid dummy suits etc are the biggest gains (and doing them consistently). It is not flashy and you know those agreeements, but do you always make those signals and trust your partner do so? If you do, great, if not then get more consistent with them. The early play and signalling is super important and if you pass no info to your partner you have failed. Of course you have to balance that against possibly telling declarer the hand; that is the hard part.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin Lall edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Dude, no kidding, I typed "a few years ago" and then saw the post date. You ARE old!
Re: carding again, I know Rosenberg for example has a lot of defense notes in his partnership file, whereas most pairs I know have something like 50 pages of uncontested bidding and 2 pages of "leads/signals".
Do you and your partners have anything special you put on paper, or is it more about having a shared understanding/philosophy about what cards mean what in each situation?
Re: carding again, I know Rosenberg for example has a lot of defense notes in his partnership file, whereas most pairs I know have something like 50 pages of uncontested bidding and 2 pages of "leads/signals".
Do you and your partners have anything special you put on paper, or is it more about having a shared understanding/philosophy about what cards mean what in each situation?
Jan. 15, 2015
I am similar to most people you know, very little notes on defensive signalling. But I think that is just because I'm not a notes person, I have talked a lot about defensive situations but it is definitely understanding our philosophy and how we will be thinking about certain situations. There are so many situations that it's hard to write down rules.
If there is ever a defensive accident or misunderstanding it is imperative to talk in depth about it and figure out what went wrong.
If there is ever a defensive accident or misunderstanding it is imperative to talk in depth about it and figure out what went wrong.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin - have known you a long time mostly starting back in the day at nationals when you would stick around way past your suggested bedtime to partake in post-mortems and midnight events like Kreights with the Likes of David Treadwell. It was hilarious when you at 13 and he at 83 (ballpark figures) would mock each other - whipper-snapper and old-fart except you called him Davey-T which I thought was actually funnier.
You've come a long way and prospered and overcome quite a lot. I expect the decades ahead will be much much more of the same, and it's a huge pleasure to know you and have you represent the bridge world with your considerable talents and dedication and charm.
You've come a long way and prospered and overcome quite a lot. I expect the decades ahead will be much much more of the same, and it's a huge pleasure to know you and have you represent the bridge world with your considerable talents and dedication and charm.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Jay,
First of all, you humbly underrate your contribution to my game. Obviously staying up way too late is bad for a kid but talking bridge with a lot of really good players even while not playing bridge is huge for your development.
I had a lot of people like you who took interest in me and would help me with my game which is a large part of why I became good at bridge. Even now, I play with many different people in national pair games to try and learn the best part of peoples games and incorporate it into my own.
I miss Dave Treadwell, he was a great guy and a young soul. And you totally taught me how to play like a moron and how not to play so thanks ;)
First of all, you humbly underrate your contribution to my game. Obviously staying up way too late is bad for a kid but talking bridge with a lot of really good players even while not playing bridge is huge for your development.
I had a lot of people like you who took interest in me and would help me with my game which is a large part of why I became good at bridge. Even now, I play with many different people in national pair games to try and learn the best part of peoples games and incorporate it into my own.
I miss Dave Treadwell, he was a great guy and a young soul. And you totally taught me how to play like a moron and how not to play so thanks ;)
Jan. 15, 2015
Haha that's a cool story Scott, some things never change I guess.
1) I play strong club in most of my partnerships. I don't think system matters as much as style, but precision allows an aggressive style where you get in early, open the bidding a lot, and generally disrupt your opps. I think that the side that bids first has a huge advantage, and they should take advantage of that, especially non vul, so I like light opening bid systems and 14-16 NT, which go well with strong club. That being said little old ladies like Levin and Weinstein manage to do well with their sound system; that's one of the great things about bridge, many styles can do well.
B) I'd say the main thing about doing well with new expert partners is not being too theoretical. Sometime you might think a bid or a meaning of a bid is right, but at the same time you know it could be misunderstood and rational players might think differently. If it is not discussed and it is not totally straight forward, DON'T DO IT! It is egocentric to think that your way is the only way a bid might be interpreted. Just play bridge. Make a bid that is obvious even if you think it might be slightly subotptimal, on top of not having major misunderstandings, you avoid the whole battle of who is right or wrong and bad energy. If your partner knows you're trying to make it easy on them, they will try to make it easy on you, and you will win. You will be together.
iii) Romo is not a choker. The only reason the cowboys have been good at all is because of his play. He's good enough to carry a mediocre team to major games. From there too much expectation has been placed on him since he is our star player to be great, and when he messes up people jump on it. In short, Romo and I would be a dynasty.
Edit: Sorry to Scott Stearns, I failed at quoting and replying to your post! Hopefully a mod can undo my error lol
1) I play strong club in most of my partnerships. I don't think system matters as much as style, but precision allows an aggressive style where you get in early, open the bidding a lot, and generally disrupt your opps. I think that the side that bids first has a huge advantage, and they should take advantage of that, especially non vul, so I like light opening bid systems and 14-16 NT, which go well with strong club. That being said little old ladies like Levin and Weinstein manage to do well with their sound system; that's one of the great things about bridge, many styles can do well.
B) I'd say the main thing about doing well with new expert partners is not being too theoretical. Sometime you might think a bid or a meaning of a bid is right, but at the same time you know it could be misunderstood and rational players might think differently. If it is not discussed and it is not totally straight forward, DON'T DO IT! It is egocentric to think that your way is the only way a bid might be interpreted. Just play bridge. Make a bid that is obvious even if you think it might be slightly subotptimal, on top of not having major misunderstandings, you avoid the whole battle of who is right or wrong and bad energy. If your partner knows you're trying to make it easy on them, they will try to make it easy on you, and you will win. You will be together.
iii) Romo is not a choker. The only reason the cowboys have been good at all is because of his play. He's good enough to carry a mediocre team to major games. From there too much expectation has been placed on him since he is our star player to be great, and when he messes up people jump on it. In short, Romo and I would be a dynasty.
Edit: Sorry to Scott Stearns, I failed at quoting and replying to your post! Hopefully a mod can undo my error lol
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin Lall edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Hi, Justin, what do you think of Dez Bryant's catch in Green Bay?
Jan. 15, 2015
1. What is your favorite defense against 1NT?
2. If you won the lottery, would you be a sponsor? If so what you you look for your teammates?
3. How many 5 year olds?
2. If you won the lottery, would you be a sponsor? If so what you you look for your teammates?
3. How many 5 year olds?
Jan. 15, 2015
Charley Seelbach edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Charley,
1) Landy actually. I think 2M natural is important, it' more preempive and your partner can raise/bid game with a big fit whether or not 3rd hand bids. Likewise I view penalty double as important, not necessarily to get penalties but to show a strong hand and get to game. I really think people have it wrong, they just want to bid and never get to game but it is way more frequent than people think that you have a game when they open 1N. You need a fit and some values, let's try to find it! I think 2C majors is the most important, show the majors immediately and have room to find the right fit and also have room to game try when partner has the majors. I don't care if 2D is natural or 2D is D+M. Basically I have no way to show minors or majors+minor and play 2m, who cares, we are not going to play 2m immediately.
2) I would absolutely be a sponsor in that case. I would look for #1 people who would be fun to be around and fun to be teammates for a long period of time (becuase if you're not having fun what's the point?? I would spend my money elsewhere), and also great pairs. Grue-Moss, Greco-Hampson, Levin-Weinstein in particular come to mind.
Edit: I notice I mentioned only American pairs, and I guess the reason is that I would want to have my team for the US trials so I can win Bermuda Bowls. That is the ultimate goal. I also notice you added a question 3...
I think I could defeat 420 5 year olds in a fight. More and they'd swarm me and take me out.
1) Landy actually. I think 2M natural is important, it' more preempive and your partner can raise/bid game with a big fit whether or not 3rd hand bids. Likewise I view penalty double as important, not necessarily to get penalties but to show a strong hand and get to game. I really think people have it wrong, they just want to bid and never get to game but it is way more frequent than people think that you have a game when they open 1N. You need a fit and some values, let's try to find it! I think 2C majors is the most important, show the majors immediately and have room to find the right fit and also have room to game try when partner has the majors. I don't care if 2D is natural or 2D is D+M. Basically I have no way to show minors or majors+minor and play 2m, who cares, we are not going to play 2m immediately.
2) I would absolutely be a sponsor in that case. I would look for #1 people who would be fun to be around and fun to be teammates for a long period of time (becuase if you're not having fun what's the point?? I would spend my money elsewhere), and also great pairs. Grue-Moss, Greco-Hampson, Levin-Weinstein in particular come to mind.
Edit: I notice I mentioned only American pairs, and I guess the reason is that I would want to have my team for the US trials so I can win Bermuda Bowls. That is the ultimate goal. I also notice you added a question 3...
I think I could defeat 420 5 year olds in a fight. More and they'd swarm me and take me out.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin Lall edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Justin
I agree with you that landy is a great convention. The main attraction, imo, is that 2♦ is available when advancer has no preference between the majors, facilitating getting in there with longer ♠s than ♥s.
I also agree that bidding 2M when you have the suit is better than multi (2♦), or capp (2♣) or dont (double), mostly because if your partner knows what your suit is, he can compete effectively if responder, e.g., uses lebensohl to get to 3m.
If you play that 2♣ is landy and 2M is natural, I think the best use for 2♦ is ♦ + M. You might call this "landy/dont".
However, I think transferring into your major is even better than bidding it. There are two advantages: one is that the transfer is forcing, so you can use the transfer with game aspirations (as you point out, we sometimes do have a game when they open 1N). The second is that, when the transfer overcall is made in direct seat, it puts the 1N opener on lead against 2M. Of course when the transfer overcall is made in balancing seat you lose the second advantage.
According to an internet bridge site, transfer overcalls were invented by Benito and used by the Blue Team. Benito and I happened to be staying at the same hotel in Providence and one morning at breakfast I asked him about this. He denies ever using transfer overcalls and says the Blue Team never did! Oh well.
So if 2♣ is landy, 2♦ is ♥s and 2♥ is ♠s, what are 2♠ and 2N? ♣s and ♦s respectively. However, because they are two-under transfers, we can also use them with a second agenda. I think (1N)-2N should be either ♦s or both minors--partner bids his better minor and you either pass (unless you have a big hand with diamonds) or bid 2♦.
What about 2♠? ♣s or...what? What should advancer's 2N and 3♣ mean? Any suggestions? Perhaps the answer is as simple as 3♣=I like ♣s and 2N=I don't like ♣s.
I agree with you that landy is a great convention. The main attraction, imo, is that 2♦ is available when advancer has no preference between the majors, facilitating getting in there with longer ♠s than ♥s.
I also agree that bidding 2M when you have the suit is better than multi (2♦), or capp (2♣) or dont (double), mostly because if your partner knows what your suit is, he can compete effectively if responder, e.g., uses lebensohl to get to 3m.
If you play that 2♣ is landy and 2M is natural, I think the best use for 2♦ is ♦ + M. You might call this "landy/dont".
However, I think transferring into your major is even better than bidding it. There are two advantages: one is that the transfer is forcing, so you can use the transfer with game aspirations (as you point out, we sometimes do have a game when they open 1N). The second is that, when the transfer overcall is made in direct seat, it puts the 1N opener on lead against 2M. Of course when the transfer overcall is made in balancing seat you lose the second advantage.
According to an internet bridge site, transfer overcalls were invented by Benito and used by the Blue Team. Benito and I happened to be staying at the same hotel in Providence and one morning at breakfast I asked him about this. He denies ever using transfer overcalls and says the Blue Team never did! Oh well.
So if 2♣ is landy, 2♦ is ♥s and 2♥ is ♠s, what are 2♠ and 2N? ♣s and ♦s respectively. However, because they are two-under transfers, we can also use them with a second agenda. I think (1N)-2N should be either ♦s or both minors--partner bids his better minor and you either pass (unless you have a big hand with diamonds) or bid 2♦.
What about 2♠? ♣s or...what? What should advancer's 2N and 3♣ mean? Any suggestions? Perhaps the answer is as simple as 3♣=I like ♣s and 2N=I don't like ♣s.
Jan. 15, 2015
By the way, if you think you could beat 420 5-year-olds in a fight, you haven't met my grandsons.
Jan. 15, 2015
I have played transfers with landy, and always played 2S=4S+longer minor, and 2N=4H+longer minor. This is a popular defense to weak NT in the circles I am associated with. It goes along well with the philosophy of forgetting about minors, either bid 3m or if your hand is strong enough X then bid the minor.
Jan. 15, 2015
Thanks for the suggestion. I like to play double as raptor when it isn't penalty, but I think you have said you strongly prefer double to be penalty.
I think Helgemo-Helness play that double of 1N even by a passed hand is penalty--it just shows a maximum passed hand. Is that what you recommend?
Does this defense--landy, major suit transfers, 2S and 2N raptor, penalty doubles in all situations--have a name? Maybe I'll call it jlall.
Also, do you use system-on to advance penalty doubles?
I think Helgemo-Helness play that double of 1N even by a passed hand is penalty--it just shows a maximum passed hand. Is that what you recommend?
Does this defense--landy, major suit transfers, 2S and 2N raptor, penalty doubles in all situations--have a name? Maybe I'll call it jlall.
Also, do you use system-on to advance penalty doubles?
Jan. 15, 2015
I would not play penalty Xs by a passed hand. I would play it as either raptor or 1 minor whichever makes sense based on the rest of your system.
I don't know what the name of this defense is but it's certainly not my invention!
I don't like system-on advance to penalty X's at all. If you have a good hand you would just pass unless very distributional or something (in which case you can jump or bid 2N), but 99 % of the time you pass with values. So bidding directly should just show a bad hand, 2 of a suit natural and 2C random imo.
I don't know what the name of this defense is but it's certainly not my invention!
I don't like system-on advance to penalty X's at all. If you have a good hand you would just pass unless very distributional or something (in which case you can jump or bid 2N), but 99 % of the time you pass with values. So bidding directly should just show a bad hand, 2 of a suit natural and 2C random imo.
Jan. 15, 2015
Andy Stark's weak notrump book credits that defense to John Mohan, and I've talked with John about it and he didn't deflect that. It's my vastly preferred defense, too, though I'll happily take off the transfers in the balancing seat to keep the notrumper on lead.
Jan. 15, 2015
The variation that I like is 2M=4M+longer m, 2♦=either major, 2♣=both majors. This has the advantage of being able to pass 2♥, but the disadvantage of not being able to show a major and then keep bidding, though personally I don't like transfers here because responder can double to show values. Also, for ACBLers, it is a mid-chart convention because 2♦ doesn't have an anchor suit. Stupid, when 2♣=either major is GCC. The GCC version has 2♦=♥ and 2♣=either ♠ or both majors.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Bob - As VuGraph Op in a Spinderbilt Semi or Final Match, I saw Helgemo balance as a PH with an 11 HCP X and extract a significant number, so they definitely play what you mentioned, and it was certainly effective :)
Jan. 15, 2015
Landy/don't seems like a poor term. How about "Dandy"?
Jan. 15, 2015
I like multi-landy but use 2♣ to show 4♠ and 4+ in a red suit. 2NT is then a GT asking further description, 2♦ a probe for the red suit or ♦ &♠ AND 2♥ showing the majors what are your thoughts about this?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hamish,
I'm not a huge fan since it eliminates one of the biggest gains of 2C showing the majors in my opinion, which is that you can get to the right strain when partner has equal length. With 2-2 or 3-3 partner can't ask which your longer major is. Also, all game tries have to go through 2N so you can't bid 2D 2H 2S like in landy.
And finally, it is somewhat vulnerable to preemption, if they bid over 2C you might lose a big heart fit and possibly a game.
I'm not a huge fan since it eliminates one of the biggest gains of 2C showing the majors in my opinion, which is that you can get to the right strain when partner has equal length. With 2-2 or 3-3 partner can't ask which your longer major is. Also, all game tries have to go through 2N so you can't bid 2D 2H 2S like in landy.
And finally, it is somewhat vulnerable to preemption, if they bid over 2C you might lose a big heart fit and possibly a game.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin, it's fun to talk with you here. My improvised question is: how to stay focusing on every board during a long tournament? Don't tell me Jack Daniels and stay up the whole night, the method only applies to you:) Have fun in the well.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Dunga,
Part of it is that I am well conditioned for long bridge tournaments. No, I am not well conditioned, but some of the people with the best bridge stamina or really out of shape. Playing 72 boards a day or playing 4 weeks in a row is a great way to get used to playing a lot and staying focused.
The other part of it is hunger. Sometimes you're running on pure adrenaline, and that's ok. I can promise you if I make it to the finals of the Spingold I will not have trouble focusing. My whole life has been building up to that moment and waiting for it. If I reach that point I will not find it hard to remain focused. You really have to want it.
Part of it is that I am well conditioned for long bridge tournaments. No, I am not well conditioned, but some of the people with the best bridge stamina or really out of shape. Playing 72 boards a day or playing 4 weeks in a row is a great way to get used to playing a lot and staying focused.
The other part of it is hunger. Sometimes you're running on pure adrenaline, and that's ok. I can promise you if I make it to the finals of the Spingold I will not have trouble focusing. My whole life has been building up to that moment and waiting for it. If I reach that point I will not find it hard to remain focused. You really have to want it.
Jan. 15, 2015
How do you stay healthy, rested, and focused traveling to bridge tournaments? Any must have things that you do with exercise, sleep, food, relaxation or anything to help?
Jan. 15, 2015
Good morning Justin. I followed your team during the 2011 US trials and the Bermuda Bowl finals in Veldhoven. That was the most fun I've ever had kibbing high-level bridge online. You mentioned in your reply to Felix that being a good bridge player is being honest, unbiased and introspective. That seems so simple and easy but obviously it is not easy for most mortals, esp. under pressure. Based on what I've read on your blog and some of your other online posts, it seems to me you value honesty more than anything, including winning. Is that true? Where did you learn this? Does this get you in trouble when you are talking to women?
Jan. 15, 2015
Wow Mark, that is an incredibly good read on me! Even the getting me in trouble when talking to women part, totally true I say exactly what I'm feeling too often sometimes.
I don't know where it came from, I think it is just a personality thing as it is true in both my bridge and non-bridge life (for example in friends I also value honesty over everything else).
I don't know where it came from, I think it is just a personality thing as it is true in both my bridge and non-bridge life (for example in friends I also value honesty over everything else).
Jan. 15, 2015
If your RHO opens a high level preempt at the 4 or 5 level, and you have a monster with 6M-4m, what is the correct overcall?
Jan. 15, 2015
hi JLall,
Do you agree on making plans for bidding or just make the best descriptive bidding at any point?
based on this answer, how you would open this hand K10xx --- x AKQ10xxxx (and whats your plan with your opening -- if you agree before -- based it can back to you at high red suit levels).
Cheers from Brasil,
Adriano
Do you agree on making plans for bidding or just make the best descriptive bidding at any point?
based on this answer, how you would open this hand K10xx --- x AKQ10xxxx (and whats your plan with your opening -- if you agree before -- based it can back to you at high red suit levels).
Cheers from Brasil,
Adriano
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Adriano,
Making a plan for the bidding can be fine, especially when it's a competitive auction. For instance, if your LHO opens 1H and your partner doubles and RHO passes and you have 6 clubs and 4 spades you might choose to bid 2C planning on showing 4 spades later (which in turn will show your partner that you probably have 6 clubs for doing it this way). This might be bad if the auction died but the auction will probably never die.
That being said, most of the time my plan includes making the best descriptive bid, or if I think I will have 2 bids making the best description possible with those 2 bids. With KTxx ---- x AKQTxxxx I don't see any option other than opening 1C. I don't know how the auction will turn out but I imagine I will keep bidding them! The hand is much too strong to open 5C IMO.
Making a plan for the bidding can be fine, especially when it's a competitive auction. For instance, if your LHO opens 1H and your partner doubles and RHO passes and you have 6 clubs and 4 spades you might choose to bid 2C planning on showing 4 spades later (which in turn will show your partner that you probably have 6 clubs for doing it this way). This might be bad if the auction died but the auction will probably never die.
That being said, most of the time my plan includes making the best descriptive bid, or if I think I will have 2 bids making the best description possible with those 2 bids. With KTxx ---- x AKQTxxxx I don't see any option other than opening 1C. I don't know how the auction will turn out but I imagine I will keep bidding them! The hand is much too strong to open 5C IMO.
Jan. 15, 2015
Jlall,
Suppose some country suddenly decides it wants to become a powerful bridge nation. They have plenty of money and many smart and dedicated people, but no tradition in bridge. They also have no common sense, so they hire you to manage the project. What will you do, and how long will it take for them to have a shot at winning the Bermuda Bowl?
Suppose some country suddenly decides it wants to become a powerful bridge nation. They have plenty of money and many smart and dedicated people, but no tradition in bridge. They also have no common sense, so they hire you to manage the project. What will you do, and how long will it take for them to have a shot at winning the Bermuda Bowl?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Han,
Well first I would make it mandatory to learn bridge in schools. I would also place high financial incentives on becoming a top player in the country, all of the people who reach a certain rating or level will be subsidized by the country and live very comfortably. From there, the top kids who show the most promise can go study bridge full time at the Jlall bridge school. This will include star coaching from Eric Kokish, and top caliber players. The course will be rigorous and these students will play matches against top teams regularly.
Basically I am modeling it in a similar way to how the Soviet Union completely dominated the chess world for so long.
I think in 15 years I could have a team capable of winning the Bermuda Bowl.
Well first I would make it mandatory to learn bridge in schools. I would also place high financial incentives on becoming a top player in the country, all of the people who reach a certain rating or level will be subsidized by the country and live very comfortably. From there, the top kids who show the most promise can go study bridge full time at the Jlall bridge school. This will include star coaching from Eric Kokish, and top caliber players. The course will be rigorous and these students will play matches against top teams regularly.
Basically I am modeling it in a similar way to how the Soviet Union completely dominated the chess world for so long.
I think in 15 years I could have a team capable of winning the Bermuda Bowl.
Jan. 15, 2015
There are plenty of aspiring individuals in North Korea. But I am not sure Kim Jong-un would be willing to wait 15 years!!
Jan. 15, 2015
Yeah if it was North Korea I'm not sure if I'd take that job lol.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Justin, I was just wondering, hoe many syllables does criticism have?
Jan. 15, 2015
JLall, When we had a game together you were a terrific partner. Positive, upbeat and happy for both of us to mind our own business. My question is : Were you always this way or has this attitude changed/evolved over the years ?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Sartaj,
Thanks for the compliment! This was definitely a learned behavior, I was a bratty kid and a horrible partner (shocking) when I first started playing. I had a conduct hearing when I was thirteen for leaving in the middle of the last day of a national pair game playing with my mom!
I think people who want to yell at their partner want to absolve themselves of guilt/shame if they do something wrong, or they want to show how smart/superior they are and how much they know. If you lose that chip on your shoulder you realize bridge is a tough game and partner is trying their best and they need you on their side to play their best, and likewise you need them. Instead of trying to put partner down so you feel good, bring them up so you have a better chance of winning, and also I have found that if you're a good partner then your partner is way more likely to be a good one to you. The game is also just more fun that way.
Thanks for the compliment! This was definitely a learned behavior, I was a bratty kid and a horrible partner (shocking) when I first started playing. I had a conduct hearing when I was thirteen for leaving in the middle of the last day of a national pair game playing with my mom!
I think people who want to yell at their partner want to absolve themselves of guilt/shame if they do something wrong, or they want to show how smart/superior they are and how much they know. If you lose that chip on your shoulder you realize bridge is a tough game and partner is trying their best and they need you on their side to play their best, and likewise you need them. Instead of trying to put partner down so you feel good, bring them up so you have a better chance of winning, and also I have found that if you're a good partner then your partner is way more likely to be a good one to you. The game is also just more fun that way.
Jan. 15, 2015
Congratulations on a great bridge career and thanks for being in the well.
My question has to do with partnerships. You seem to switch top level partners effortlessly and always manage to do well.
Do you spend a lot of time discussing methods with your top-level partners?
I have a theory that one of the reasons great players often win our national pair events in unestablished partnerships is that they DON'T have detailed agreements. Therefore, when they approach an unfamiliar situation in the auction, they try to hedge their bets by making a bid that, while they may not think it's the best call, they are sure their partner will understand it. In fact, you have mentioned this approach already in a few of your comments. It may be that this is the best way to play the game!
Probably the best way is to have 600 pages of notes, as Meckwell allegedly do. But if you can't have 600 pages, maybe the second best way is to have 10 pages of notes and to try very hard to be practical when an undiscussed situation comes up.
What do you think? I have heard that the juniors don't have to discuss things much because they all learned the game together and already know what the bids mean. That may be a factor as well, but I think the main reason they do well in random partnerships with other great juniors is that they are practical.
My question has to do with partnerships. You seem to switch top level partners effortlessly and always manage to do well.
Do you spend a lot of time discussing methods with your top-level partners?
I have a theory that one of the reasons great players often win our national pair events in unestablished partnerships is that they DON'T have detailed agreements. Therefore, when they approach an unfamiliar situation in the auction, they try to hedge their bets by making a bid that, while they may not think it's the best call, they are sure their partner will understand it. In fact, you have mentioned this approach already in a few of your comments. It may be that this is the best way to play the game!
Probably the best way is to have 600 pages of notes, as Meckwell allegedly do. But if you can't have 600 pages, maybe the second best way is to have 10 pages of notes and to try very hard to be practical when an undiscussed situation comes up.
What do you think? I have heard that the juniors don't have to discuss things much because they all learned the game together and already know what the bids mean. That may be a factor as well, but I think the main reason they do well in random partnerships with other great juniors is that they are practical.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Bob,
I think there is a simpler reason to why unestablished pairs often win national pair games, very few of the top pairs play together in them. For instance I think Levin and Weinstein would break all the records if they played with each other, but they never do (when they do play pair games they just win the world open pairs and win cavendishes all day lol).
So with the exception of the couple of top established pairs who always play together in national pair games, the winner is going to be either a lesser known pair or a pair of great players who are not a regular partnership.
Partnership does matter less in matchpoints than imps. In imps if you have bad slam bidding or costly accidents it is a lot worse, in matchpoints it's just a board and you can get it back by stealing a trick in a partscore on the next hand.
I think to be a top pair you need a lot of system and agreements. I just think that you don't need to be a top pair to win a national pair game, since that is not usually who you are competing against. I have a lot of agreements with Kevin and now that we will be playing at the nationals we are going to add a lot more. That said it is sometimes fun to just make out a card in 30 minutes and just play bridge, but it is not optimal for being a top pair.
I think there is a simpler reason to why unestablished pairs often win national pair games, very few of the top pairs play together in them. For instance I think Levin and Weinstein would break all the records if they played with each other, but they never do (when they do play pair games they just win the world open pairs and win cavendishes all day lol).
So with the exception of the couple of top established pairs who always play together in national pair games, the winner is going to be either a lesser known pair or a pair of great players who are not a regular partnership.
Partnership does matter less in matchpoints than imps. In imps if you have bad slam bidding or costly accidents it is a lot worse, in matchpoints it's just a board and you can get it back by stealing a trick in a partscore on the next hand.
I think to be a top pair you need a lot of system and agreements. I just think that you don't need to be a top pair to win a national pair game, since that is not usually who you are competing against. I have a lot of agreements with Kevin and now that we will be playing at the nationals we are going to add a lot more. That said it is sometimes fun to just make out a card in 30 minutes and just play bridge, but it is not optimal for being a top pair.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey FMK...
Thanks for being in the well. Two questions:
1) Worst convention that too many intermediate players play?
2) Best convention that not enough intermediate players play?
Thanks for being in the well. Two questions:
1) Worst convention that too many intermediate players play?
2) Best convention that not enough intermediate players play?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Darin,
Best convention that not enough intermediate players play is transfer lebensohl IMO. People are bidding a lot over 1N these days and having a detailed way of handling it is really important, and transfer lebensohl is so much better than normal leb. Specifically it is hopeless to not have a way to invite in hearts after 1N (2S), and I believe that's how it is in normal leb.
I am not sure about worst convention, but I would say overall intermediate players try to play way too many conventions that they don't completely understand and are infrequent or gain very little for a lot of added memory load.
Best convention that not enough intermediate players play is transfer lebensohl IMO. People are bidding a lot over 1N these days and having a detailed way of handling it is really important, and transfer lebensohl is so much better than normal leb. Specifically it is hopeless to not have a way to invite in hearts after 1N (2S), and I believe that's how it is in normal leb.
I am not sure about worst convention, but I would say overall intermediate players try to play way too many conventions that they don't completely understand and are infrequent or gain very little for a lot of added memory load.
Jan. 15, 2015
Winning a silver medal at the Bermuda Bowl is, of course, a fantastic achievement. But it also means that you lost in the final, and you won't be considered the best player in the world before you have won such a final.
Is there anything specific you took away from this loss? Where do you/your partnership/your team have to improve so that you have a better chance to win next time you are in the same position?
Is there anything specific you took away from this loss? Where do you/your partnership/your team have to improve so that you have a better chance to win next time you are in the same position?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Arend,
On the bridge side we definitely got crushed on slam hands. If you look over the hands we lost an insurmountable amount of imps on slam decisions, not due to bad luck but due to being outplayed in that department. So definitely slam bidding matters a lot in top level imp competitions, and the Dutch were far better prepared and had more/better agreements than us there. The Italians are often noted for having great slam bidding and agreements as well, that is one reason they win so much.
On the mental side, definitely if I ever get back there I will remember how much it sucks losing after going so far, and will definitely use that as motivation. I think we got desensitized to winning big matches and how high the stakes were, it was such a long run from the beginning of the trials to that point and it kind of felt like it was something happening around me at some point, totally surreal, and I think I lost sight of the moment and what was on the line during the beginning of the finals.
On the bridge side we definitely got crushed on slam hands. If you look over the hands we lost an insurmountable amount of imps on slam decisions, not due to bad luck but due to being outplayed in that department. So definitely slam bidding matters a lot in top level imp competitions, and the Dutch were far better prepared and had more/better agreements than us there. The Italians are often noted for having great slam bidding and agreements as well, that is one reason they win so much.
On the mental side, definitely if I ever get back there I will remember how much it sucks losing after going so far, and will definitely use that as motivation. I think we got desensitized to winning big matches and how high the stakes were, it was such a long run from the beginning of the trials to that point and it kind of felt like it was something happening around me at some point, totally surreal, and I think I lost sight of the moment and what was on the line during the beginning of the finals.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin, what impact do you think having Hamman mentor you had on your bridge career? Any thoughts on how its trajectory might have evolved without his influence?
And - kudos for a beyond impressive career so far. Can't wait to be dazzled by what is yet to come!
And - kudos for a beyond impressive career so far. Can't wait to be dazzled by what is yet to come!
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Peggy,
Hamman has had a profound effect on me. Even some of these questions about being honest, and being a good partner, those are classic Bob Hamman traits and I can't help but wonder how much of my progression there has been directly related to his influence.
I can't really know what my trajectory would have been without him, he was such an important influence on me at an important time in my bridge development. But having the best player in the world take an interest in you when you are 15 cannot hurt! He is an amazing guy and an amazing player.
Hamman has had a profound effect on me. Even some of these questions about being honest, and being a good partner, those are classic Bob Hamman traits and I can't help but wonder how much of my progression there has been directly related to his influence.
I can't really know what my trajectory would have been without him, he was such an important influence on me at an important time in my bridge development. But having the best player in the world take an interest in you when you are 15 cannot hurt! He is an amazing guy and an amazing player.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin, I read your blog article about why Bridge is (should be) appealing to young people, and have referenced it when I have introduced the game to teenagers. I wanted to ask: Have you had any negative experiences as a young person playing Bridge? For example, have older Bridge players had a problem with "this young upstart" ruffling their feathers?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Bronagh,
Thanks for referencing my article, I have gotten really positive feedback on that one and it's nice to hear!
There are always some negative people and some who hate playing against or losing to young people. Perhaps they find it embarrassing. I don't think this is unique to bridge, in life in general there are some older people who do not like being around younger people. But that is the exception by far in my experience. Most older people want to help younger people succeed and in bridge they want the game to live on so they see younger people as the future. I was definitely encouraged and helped by so many older people just because I was young and that is what I remember.
Thanks for referencing my article, I have gotten really positive feedback on that one and it's nice to hear!
There are always some negative people and some who hate playing against or losing to young people. Perhaps they find it embarrassing. I don't think this is unique to bridge, in life in general there are some older people who do not like being around younger people. But that is the exception by far in my experience. Most older people want to help younger people succeed and in bridge they want the game to live on so they see younger people as the future. I was definitely encouraged and helped by so many older people just because I was young and that is what I remember.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin,
How do you split up your time between, now compared to say 10 years ago:
- playing bridge
- thinking (reading, or going over hands yourself) about bridge
- discussing bridge (particularly with partners, including system notes)
How do you split up your time between, now compared to say 10 years ago:
- playing bridge
- thinking (reading, or going over hands yourself) about bridge
- discussing bridge (particularly with partners, including system notes)
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Yuan,
Compared to 10 years ago I play much more, and spend more time going over system notes (I guess the two go hand in hand). The obvious reason for this is that I am a bridge professional and have more job opportunities than I did 10 years ago.
Because of this I definitely spend less time thinking/reading about bridge and spend less time talking about bridge in general (excluding notes) than I did 10 years ago. I used to be extremely active on BBF and I used to discuss bridge on AIM etc daily with my friends. I also played a lot more online.
I think the optimal ratio would be somewhere in the middle. It would be better if I played less bridge than I do now and thought about/talked about bridge at a higher level more frequently. But again, since it's my job and I have to pay the bills that's not practical!
Compared to 10 years ago I play much more, and spend more time going over system notes (I guess the two go hand in hand). The obvious reason for this is that I am a bridge professional and have more job opportunities than I did 10 years ago.
Because of this I definitely spend less time thinking/reading about bridge and spend less time talking about bridge in general (excluding notes) than I did 10 years ago. I used to be extremely active on BBF and I used to discuss bridge on AIM etc daily with my friends. I also played a lot more online.
I think the optimal ratio would be somewhere in the middle. It would be better if I played less bridge than I do now and thought about/talked about bridge at a higher level more frequently. But again, since it's my job and I have to pay the bills that's not practical!
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Justin,
Kudos to you on all your bridge successes past present and future, but I wanted to discuss something else.
In your blog, you were courageously candid about some of the most painful moments of your life, and felt it would be remiss of us not to mention that courage. I am certain that your frank discussions about things helped untold numbers of people everywhere.
So thank you for having the strength of character to be so forthcoming.
Kudos to you on all your bridge successes past present and future, but I wanted to discuss something else.
In your blog, you were courageously candid about some of the most painful moments of your life, and felt it would be remiss of us not to mention that courage. I am certain that your frank discussions about things helped untold numbers of people everywhere.
So thank you for having the strength of character to be so forthcoming.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin,
A few questions about vulnerability. What do you think of the new trend to have even completely systems at different vulnerabilities? Ever something you'd consider doing with a serious partner?
As a fun question, what do you think about adding a vulnerability after red, ie everything redoubled or maybe just tripled? What about adding 0NT, where you have to take 6 tricks?
A few questions about vulnerability. What do you think of the new trend to have even completely systems at different vulnerabilities? Ever something you'd consider doing with a serious partner?
As a fun question, what do you think about adding a vulnerability after red, ie everything redoubled or maybe just tripled? What about adding 0NT, where you have to take 6 tricks?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Ben,
I would not go so far as to have completely different systems depending on the vulnerability, not because I think it's wrong but because I think the effort required to have a second system could be better harnessed by honing your main system. That said, Brad Moss and Joe Grue, two of my closest friends who play 2 different systems, tell me that I am wrong about that.
I will say that I certainly play significantly different styles depending on the vul. First seat w/r I believe really aggro preempts are the way to go, but in all other vulnerabilities I am actually quite sound with my preempts, especially second seat red/white. Comparing my 2nd seat r/w preempts to my first seat w/r ones would make you laugh.
Likewise, my opening bids are about a point lighter in first seat w/r than in 2nd seat red, and thus my NT range is about half a point lighter etc etc. I think vulnerability is very important.
0NT would completely change the game. Strong zero would be all the rage lol. It is amazing to think about how that one step would completely change the game. I think 8 level saves should be allowed!
I would not go so far as to have completely different systems depending on the vulnerability, not because I think it's wrong but because I think the effort required to have a second system could be better harnessed by honing your main system. That said, Brad Moss and Joe Grue, two of my closest friends who play 2 different systems, tell me that I am wrong about that.
I will say that I certainly play significantly different styles depending on the vul. First seat w/r I believe really aggro preempts are the way to go, but in all other vulnerabilities I am actually quite sound with my preempts, especially second seat red/white. Comparing my 2nd seat r/w preempts to my first seat w/r ones would make you laugh.
Likewise, my opening bids are about a point lighter in first seat w/r than in 2nd seat red, and thus my NT range is about half a point lighter etc etc. I think vulnerability is very important.
0NT would completely change the game. Strong zero would be all the rage lol. It is amazing to think about how that one step would completely change the game. I think 8 level saves should be allowed!
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Justin -
As I've gotten closer to playing good bridge, I've started to hear stories about rampant use of hard drugs and the expectation of some clients that their pros also provide bedroom services, which has really skewed my view toward the profession. I imagine you have much more accurate knowledge of what goes on - How much of that actually goes on to your knowledge? Is it a problem, in your opinion? Does that impact what people find success as a bridge professional?
As I've gotten closer to playing good bridge, I've started to hear stories about rampant use of hard drugs and the expectation of some clients that their pros also provide bedroom services, which has really skewed my view toward the profession. I imagine you have much more accurate knowledge of what goes on - How much of that actually goes on to your knowledge? Is it a problem, in your opinion? Does that impact what people find success as a bridge professional?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Chris,
First of all I commend you for your very direct questions.
Let me start off with the "expectation of some clients that their pros provide bedroom services." There is a joke in the bridge world that these pros are full service pros.
Jokes aside, I doubt that is ever what happens. Golf pros, tennis pros, college professors, basically anyone who is teaching someone something and spending a lot of time doing so, perhaps travelling etc, there is a chance that they end up falling for each other and having a sexual relationship. I am young so this has never really happened to me or my friends since there is usually a big age gap, but of course I can understand it happening to people. And of course, the rumor/gossip mill goes around that that person is a full service pro and it's part of their job description to sleep with so and so. And really it's like high school, usually those people aren't sleeping together at all and people think they are because they're around each other so often, and if they are it's probably a mutual thing that just happened after spending a lot of time together.
I really really doubt any client hires a pro with the expectation of sex and the pro rolls with that. You can see how it is just jokes and gossip spiraling out of control. And any time someone has perceived power or authority over anyone else like the client is perceived to have over the pro, if they do end up having a sexual relationship people are going to say it's because of that power. This kind of stuff should not skew your opinion of the profession.
Hard drugs, well that is a real thing and that happens. But again, rampant use is really an overbid. I bet that bridge pros as a group do hard drugs far less than society as a whole, especially if you factor in having enough money to do it and having lots of opportunity to do it. Hard drugs are a reality in society, and they are a reality in bridge. And of course you hear the stories of the ones who do it and it becomes gossip blah blah, but the reality is a very small % of bridge pros do hard drugs. And those who do it generally can handle moderation and that's why they are still able to be successful bridge pros, the problem with hard drugs is really that some % of those people become addicted and it messes up their lives.
Edit: Didn't answer your last question. The full service pro thing, no that is basically not a real thing imo and does not affect anything. Hard drugs? Yes, if you are known to be a hard drug user, it negatively impacts your ability to find work. People don't want to hire people who are known to have a drug problem for obvious reasons.
First of all I commend you for your very direct questions.
Let me start off with the "expectation of some clients that their pros provide bedroom services." There is a joke in the bridge world that these pros are full service pros.
Jokes aside, I doubt that is ever what happens. Golf pros, tennis pros, college professors, basically anyone who is teaching someone something and spending a lot of time doing so, perhaps travelling etc, there is a chance that they end up falling for each other and having a sexual relationship. I am young so this has never really happened to me or my friends since there is usually a big age gap, but of course I can understand it happening to people. And of course, the rumor/gossip mill goes around that that person is a full service pro and it's part of their job description to sleep with so and so. And really it's like high school, usually those people aren't sleeping together at all and people think they are because they're around each other so often, and if they are it's probably a mutual thing that just happened after spending a lot of time together.
I really really doubt any client hires a pro with the expectation of sex and the pro rolls with that. You can see how it is just jokes and gossip spiraling out of control. And any time someone has perceived power or authority over anyone else like the client is perceived to have over the pro, if they do end up having a sexual relationship people are going to say it's because of that power. This kind of stuff should not skew your opinion of the profession.
Hard drugs, well that is a real thing and that happens. But again, rampant use is really an overbid. I bet that bridge pros as a group do hard drugs far less than society as a whole, especially if you factor in having enough money to do it and having lots of opportunity to do it. Hard drugs are a reality in society, and they are a reality in bridge. And of course you hear the stories of the ones who do it and it becomes gossip blah blah, but the reality is a very small % of bridge pros do hard drugs. And those who do it generally can handle moderation and that's why they are still able to be successful bridge pros, the problem with hard drugs is really that some % of those people become addicted and it messes up their lives.
Edit: Didn't answer your last question. The full service pro thing, no that is basically not a real thing imo and does not affect anything. Hard drugs? Yes, if you are known to be a hard drug user, it negatively impacts your ability to find work. People don't want to hire people who are known to have a drug problem for obvious reasons.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Jlall, from the way you talk about bridge, it seems you come from online poker :-) Terms like "leak" to identify a personal weakness in the play, or grind to talk about the fatigue of playing a lot, those are usually used by online poker players... did you ever play poker for a living online, perhaps before bridge could give you a serious income? what did you take from poker, in that case, that's useful for bridge?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Lucio,
Yes I was around in the golden era of Party Poker. I continued playing online for a long time and made more money at poker than bridge at the beginning of my bridge career. Eventually it became difficult/impossible to play in USA because of the laws, and on top of that the poker games online were becoming really tough and I was not staying ahead of the curve due largely to my focus on bridge.
I then moved to Las Vegas to play live poker and found that I really did well at that. Unlike a lot of online players who start to play live, the transition was easy for me due to playing live bridge my whole life. I was comfortable with the slow pace and being at a table talking/reading people/getting read all the time.
Eventually I left Las Vegas to live with my girlfriend and now poker is just a hobby.
I took from poker the understanding of variance and the understanding of analytical analysis of my game. There is a lot of variance and noise in bridge and that is important to know when analyzing your game and what you are doing wrong. Top bridge players are way too results oriented in my opinion. It also reinforced that "small pots matter." In bridge that means partscores. Grinding partscore hands is the bread and butter of bridge, if you are donating 5 here or 5 there you will not beat a good team ever. The bigger swings can go either way, who knows, but you have to be respecting the partscore hands just like you have to respect the small pots in NL hold em
Yes I was around in the golden era of Party Poker. I continued playing online for a long time and made more money at poker than bridge at the beginning of my bridge career. Eventually it became difficult/impossible to play in USA because of the laws, and on top of that the poker games online were becoming really tough and I was not staying ahead of the curve due largely to my focus on bridge.
I then moved to Las Vegas to play live poker and found that I really did well at that. Unlike a lot of online players who start to play live, the transition was easy for me due to playing live bridge my whole life. I was comfortable with the slow pace and being at a table talking/reading people/getting read all the time.
Eventually I left Las Vegas to live with my girlfriend and now poker is just a hobby.
I took from poker the understanding of variance and the understanding of analytical analysis of my game. There is a lot of variance and noise in bridge and that is important to know when analyzing your game and what you are doing wrong. Top bridge players are way too results oriented in my opinion. It also reinforced that "small pots matter." In bridge that means partscores. Grinding partscore hands is the bread and butter of bridge, if you are donating 5 here or 5 there you will not beat a good team ever. The bigger swings can go either way, who knows, but you have to be respecting the partscore hands just like you have to respect the small pots in NL hold em
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey jlall,
If you could pick one American National event to win which would it be and why?
And secondly, who in bridge do you hate loosing to most ? Or would least like to loose to
If you could pick one American National event to win which would it be and why?
And secondly, who in bridge do you hate loosing to most ? Or would least like to loose to
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Joe,
It would be the Spingold. The Spingold and Vanderbilt may seem equal, but if I won the Vanderbilt you would remind me many times that you had won it and been second etc etc. The Spingold would be MINE and if you ever won one I could say way to follow in my footsteps son.
Losing to you is definitely the worst, I mean you cant even spell losing or lose, how can I lose to someone like that and feel good about it?
It would be the Spingold. The Spingold and Vanderbilt may seem equal, but if I won the Vanderbilt you would remind me many times that you had won it and been second etc etc. The Spingold would be MINE and if you ever won one I could say way to follow in my footsteps son.
Losing to you is definitely the worst, I mean you cant even spell losing or lose, how can I lose to someone like that and feel good about it?
Jan. 15, 2015
JLOL/PhanSac:
1. What is the EV of appearing in the well? Is there a mixed strategy to be considered?
2. If "Haspel" appeared on the periodic table of elements, describe the properties.
3. Not sure I mentioned this but I may be moving to Plano in '17. What's there to do besides go to Applebee's, tip cows and bowl drunk?
1. What is the EV of appearing in the well? Is there a mixed strategy to be considered?
2. If "Haspel" appeared on the periodic table of elements, describe the properties.
3. Not sure I mentioned this but I may be moving to Plano in '17. What's there to do besides go to Applebee's, tip cows and bowl drunk?
Jan. 15, 2015
1) About +3.50 Jlall units. I have used a mixed strategy, 50 % of the time I'm asked to go into the well I say no. I randomize based on the second hand on my watch.
2) Haspel can exist in multiple states, sometimes he is solid but sometimes he is a highly flammable gas.
3) Awesome! It's not as bad as you will think, there are lots of good restaurants and fun bars to go to, and you will be shocked how cheap the prices are compared to the LA/OC area lol.
2) Haspel can exist in multiple states, sometimes he is solid but sometimes he is a highly flammable gas.
3) Awesome! It's not as bad as you will think, there are lots of good restaurants and fun bars to go to, and you will be shocked how cheap the prices are compared to the LA/OC area lol.
Jan. 15, 2015
Jlall, thanks for a fun well so far. I've asked top players in my area about how they'd do playing against pros at your level, and the response was that they'd get slaughtered. These are top regional players who count, know the card combinations, have bidding systems, etc., so I'm wondering how you see it from your perspective. They cited advanced obstructive bidding systems--is that one thing?
On a more important topic, your Pringles thinking may be flawed. Your tongue and mouth have taste receptors for only five taste components: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami (the sense of richness that was discovered in the 60's by the Japanese). All of the finer sensory perceptors are in your nose, so to better perceive any other flavors besides the ones above it might be better to have the flavored side facing up. Not only will that put the finer (in potato chip terms, anyway) flavors towards their receptors, but it will keep the salt receptors from an immediate contact blast from the upside-down position. Of course if the salt blast is what you want, then upside-down is the way to go.
On a more important topic, your Pringles thinking may be flawed. Your tongue and mouth have taste receptors for only five taste components: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami (the sense of richness that was discovered in the 60's by the Japanese). All of the finer sensory perceptors are in your nose, so to better perceive any other flavors besides the ones above it might be better to have the flavored side facing up. Not only will that put the finer (in potato chip terms, anyway) flavors towards their receptors, but it will keep the salt receptors from an immediate contact blast from the upside-down position. Of course if the salt blast is what you want, then upside-down is the way to go.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Mark,
It totally depends on the length of the match. In a 64 board match like the Spingold, probably they would win very seldomly. I don't think it's the advanced obstructive systems so much as the aggressive competitive bidding style, if you don't have a lot of experience playing against good players who are applying pressure and doubling you when you're wrong etc then it will be very hard to play against. It is very hard to have an uncontested auction these days, and when a big fit is found esp NV having the opponents jump. It takes experience learning how to deal with it, and even then it's not easy.
That being said in a 7 board swiss match or a 12 board compact KO they would have quite a reasonable chance to win, probably better than they would think. Often times those kinds of matches come down to 1 or 2 big hands and that's pretty random. Even in a 24 board knockout match they would have a chance to win, I have lost on many occasions to good local teams.
Your pringle knowledge is very impressive, I will have to think long and hard about my position on that one. But a salt blast sounds totally awesome.
It totally depends on the length of the match. In a 64 board match like the Spingold, probably they would win very seldomly. I don't think it's the advanced obstructive systems so much as the aggressive competitive bidding style, if you don't have a lot of experience playing against good players who are applying pressure and doubling you when you're wrong etc then it will be very hard to play against. It is very hard to have an uncontested auction these days, and when a big fit is found esp NV having the opponents jump. It takes experience learning how to deal with it, and even then it's not easy.
That being said in a 7 board swiss match or a 12 board compact KO they would have quite a reasonable chance to win, probably better than they would think. Often times those kinds of matches come down to 1 or 2 big hands and that's pretty random. Even in a 24 board knockout match they would have a chance to win, I have lost on many occasions to good local teams.
Your pringle knowledge is very impressive, I will have to think long and hard about my position on that one. But a salt blast sounds totally awesome.
Jan. 15, 2015
We had this german pair recently caught cheating, and then the debate spread, perhaps you are not the most experienced but in your opinion, from all the pairs that gather at a BB (seniors and women included) or some World Championships, what percentage you think have some coded signals?
Or more simpler, I remember playing against B-L and you could sense that someting fishy was going on. Do you have the same sensation playing against some other top pair nowdays? (no need to give the name)
Or more simpler, I remember playing against B-L and you could sense that someting fishy was going on. Do you have the same sensation playing against some other top pair nowdays? (no need to give the name)
Jan. 15, 2015
Gonzalo Goded edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Gonzalo,
I think there are only a few pairs who probably have coded signals and are truly cheating. The thing is, those people are always known long before they are caught, and they are always being watched which is a lot of pressure on them, on top of the social pressure that a lot of people won't associate with them. Being a professional bridge player has a lot to do with how your peers perceive you, if you're a cheat it is pretty obvious early on.
Example, I had never played against the doctors but they came to an event and people were saying "oh the cheating doctors are here." I never actually knew their real names, just the cheating doctors. Buratti-Lanzarotti was a well known case and the Cavendish tried to make a case to not invite them, they decided there wasn't enough evidence and they promptly won the cavendish then got barred later lol.
I think there are only a few pairs who probably have coded signals and are truly cheating. The thing is, those people are always known long before they are caught, and they are always being watched which is a lot of pressure on them, on top of the social pressure that a lot of people won't associate with them. Being a professional bridge player has a lot to do with how your peers perceive you, if you're a cheat it is pretty obvious early on.
Example, I had never played against the doctors but they came to an event and people were saying "oh the cheating doctors are here." I never actually knew their real names, just the cheating doctors. Buratti-Lanzarotti was a well known case and the Cavendish tried to make a case to not invite them, they decided there wasn't enough evidence and they promptly won the cavendish then got barred later lol.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Justin
Was hoping for a re-match with Romo's boys here in Seattle (to avenge our only home loss this season).
So how you got in the Super Bowl this year ?
Was hoping for a re-match with Romo's boys here in Seattle (to avenge our only home loss this season).
So how you got in the Super Bowl this year ?
Jan. 15, 2015
Say I make a last minute substitution and have to partner you for 20 boards. We can talk one minute about agreements. Other than passed hand raptors, what other agreements would you make?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Lall
Bridge game is dying in my country. You as a member of young generation of bridge, what do you think is more important to improve the game and make it more popular among people.
Regards
Bridge game is dying in my country. You as a member of young generation of bridge, what do you think is more important to improve the game and make it more popular among people.
Regards
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Raul,
The game itself is great, I would not improve on it. I would simply improve on the marketing of the game. Right now not that many young people are even exposed to bridge so they don't have a chance to realize what a great game it is and fall in love with it. Market it well so that kids try it, and from there the game is so great that many will continue on with it.
The game itself is great, I would not improve on it. I would simply improve on the marketing of the game. Right now not that many young people are even exposed to bridge so they don't have a chance to realize what a great game it is and fall in love with it. Market it well so that kids try it, and from there the game is so great that many will continue on with it.
Jan. 15, 2015
Can you talk in general about when you think it is a winning action to psych at high level bridge? What was the most memorable psych someone performed against you? How about that you performed?
Jan. 15, 2015
Chris,
I think a true psyche always has negative imp expectation in top level bridge. However, it creates a lot of volatility. So I think psyching might be good when you need volatility, basically when you are down a lot relative to the number of boards left to play.
That being said, I think making efforts to steal when you have a fit, the vul is good for you, and you know the opps have a game is always a good strategy. I don't really consider it a psyche to respond w/r with 0 points for instance, but maybe you do. In that case, that is definitely a good psyche! Or the classic 1H p 1S with a heart fit and no points and less than four spades, especially playing precision where you can know the opps have a game, these things are often good strategy.
One memorable psyche was in the cavendish against a good friend, I overcalled KQJ tight and out or something when my partner was a passed hand and my opponents missed a slam (LHO trap passed and it got murky from their for them to figure out how much they had). It was memorable only because of the debate it spawned after; my friend was in contention and I was not. However winning the session was a big prize (I think 10k). So my goal was to win the session, and I thought this was a good spot to try something given that I had to beat all the pairs in one session. Some people thought it was terrible of me to psyche against a friend. My point was that it would be terrible for me to not give it my best effort just because someone was my friend, that is basically cheating. FWIW my friend thought it was totally fine and knows I always play my hardest.
I don't really remember psyches as memorable things, they are just part of making my best effort to win. They are rare but sometimes the situation calls for it and you have to be able to be willing to look stupid to try and win. In the finals of the trials I was really impressed with the play of the Diamond team, they were down a huge amount with one set to play and they were doing some really out there stuff --- and it was working! That showed incredible fighting spirit.
I think a true psyche always has negative imp expectation in top level bridge. However, it creates a lot of volatility. So I think psyching might be good when you need volatility, basically when you are down a lot relative to the number of boards left to play.
That being said, I think making efforts to steal when you have a fit, the vul is good for you, and you know the opps have a game is always a good strategy. I don't really consider it a psyche to respond w/r with 0 points for instance, but maybe you do. In that case, that is definitely a good psyche! Or the classic 1H p 1S with a heart fit and no points and less than four spades, especially playing precision where you can know the opps have a game, these things are often good strategy.
One memorable psyche was in the cavendish against a good friend, I overcalled KQJ tight and out or something when my partner was a passed hand and my opponents missed a slam (LHO trap passed and it got murky from their for them to figure out how much they had). It was memorable only because of the debate it spawned after; my friend was in contention and I was not. However winning the session was a big prize (I think 10k). So my goal was to win the session, and I thought this was a good spot to try something given that I had to beat all the pairs in one session. Some people thought it was terrible of me to psyche against a friend. My point was that it would be terrible for me to not give it my best effort just because someone was my friend, that is basically cheating. FWIW my friend thought it was totally fine and knows I always play my hardest.
I don't really remember psyches as memorable things, they are just part of making my best effort to win. They are rare but sometimes the situation calls for it and you have to be able to be willing to look stupid to try and win. In the finals of the trials I was really impressed with the play of the Diamond team, they were down a huge amount with one set to play and they were doing some really out there stuff --- and it was working! That showed incredible fighting spirit.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin I've got three for you:
1) Favorite Psych Story
2) When will the team of Lall-Lall; Bessis-Bessis; Bilde-Bilde win an international title?
3) Do you have a favorite falsecard or tactical bid I should watch out for in the future
1) Favorite Psych Story
2) When will the team of Lall-Lall; Bessis-Bessis; Bilde-Bilde win an international title?
3) Do you have a favorite falsecard or tactical bid I should watch out for in the future
Jan. 15, 2015
beat you by 4 seconds....your proper formatting probably slowed you down.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Sean,
Answered #1 above.
2) I actually heard they are coming out with a new world championship, the transnational father-son teams in 2017. I would say we are a lock.
3) Axx opp KT87x. You need 4 tricks. You play low towards the KT87x, if an honor pops, you win the king and run the 8, If they play low you play the 8 (losing to stiff 9 but picking up the others), and if they play the 9, you win the king and run the ten next right? Ok well the last part of that is my point, with QJ9x onside in this situation, put in the 9! It is the only play to give them a losing option and is thus a mandatory falsecard.
Answered #1 above.
2) I actually heard they are coming out with a new world championship, the transnational father-son teams in 2017. I would say we are a lock.
3) Axx opp KT87x. You need 4 tricks. You play low towards the KT87x, if an honor pops, you win the king and run the 8, If they play low you play the 8 (losing to stiff 9 but picking up the others), and if they play the 9, you win the king and run the ten next right? Ok well the last part of that is my point, with QJ9x onside in this situation, put in the 9! It is the only play to give them a losing option and is thus a mandatory falsecard.
Jan. 15, 2015
Who would be the better bridge player, Littlefinger or Tyrion? Would one of them be likely to win the Westeros open?
Jan. 15, 2015
Han,
I love Tyrion but it's definitely Littlefinger. He would change partners multiple times before betraying all of them.
I love Tyrion but it's definitely Littlefinger. He would change partners multiple times before betraying all of them.
Jan. 15, 2015
You may be right, but don't forget that the Lannisters are always able to get the best teammates.
Jan. 15, 2015
Littlefinger obv.
But I'd hire Daenerys for the Mixed and we would crush. And they better let the dragons kib.
But I'd hire Daenerys for the Mixed and we would crush. And they better let the dragons kib.
Jan. 15, 2015
Phil,
I don't think you could afford her. Unless maybe you had an army or a bunch of ships.
I don't think you could afford her. Unless maybe you had an army or a bunch of ships.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi JLogic
First I need to mention this before I ask my question. You have given us (Bridge Base forums) a lot. Even after many great players like Fred, Josh, Roger has abandoned or rarely posts, you stayed with us and keep on posting, helping and sharing your experiences. Me as a BBF regular appreciate that and I want you to know this if not already. I hope this does not change.
Having said that you will not get away with that 1 NT xx -7 incident. That was painful! Aaron and I am looking forward to get it back. So watch out :P
My question is, as you probably know I am originally from Turkey and you played in US Junior team in Istanbul. How did you find the land of "naturally born experts" in general, food, city, bridge or whatever that you can remember of?
Thank You!
First I need to mention this before I ask my question. You have given us (Bridge Base forums) a lot. Even after many great players like Fred, Josh, Roger has abandoned or rarely posts, you stayed with us and keep on posting, helping and sharing your experiences. Me as a BBF regular appreciate that and I want you to know this if not already. I hope this does not change.
Having said that you will not get away with that 1 NT xx -7 incident. That was painful! Aaron and I am looking forward to get it back. So watch out :P
My question is, as you probably know I am originally from Turkey and you played in US Junior team in Istanbul. How did you find the land of "naturally born experts" in general, food, city, bridge or whatever that you can remember of?
Thank You!
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Timo,
Thanks a lot for your kind words. BBF has given a lot to me also.
As far as Turkey, what's not to like? The women were beautiful, the people were friendly, I found a love of Raki, and the city itself was so rich with culture. I don't remember the food that well. The only downside was we were in a very cramped college dorm room, but it was a junior tournament so it was understandable that the accommodations were not like what they'd be at a Bermuda Bowl!
Thanks a lot for your kind words. BBF has given a lot to me also.
As far as Turkey, what's not to like? The women were beautiful, the people were friendly, I found a love of Raki, and the city itself was so rich with culture. I don't remember the food that well. The only downside was we were in a very cramped college dorm room, but it was a junior tournament so it was understandable that the accommodations were not like what they'd be at a Bermuda Bowl!
Jan. 15, 2015
What hands would you pass a responsive X with after something like 1M-x-3M-x or 2M-x-3M-x? You said bad players pass this out far too infrequently.
Jan. 15, 2015
2M X 3M X I would pass with a lot of balanced hands like 3244 with some aces and kings. 1M X 3M X same thing I guess, but I would be more careful there. It depends a lot on the form of the game and vulnerability, I am passing a ton there when they are vulnerable at MP since my target is 200 and I might be willing to gamble. At imps I am passing less obviously.
Jan. 15, 2015
1) Game of Thrones or The Wire?
2) Was it a catch?
3) Is Adnan guilty?
2) Was it a catch?
3) Is Adnan guilty?
Jan. 15, 2015
1) The Wire, however Game of Thrones has a chance to surpass it. Really we have to see how Game of Thrones ends to judge, The Wire is a completed work (well they had to rush the last season but you know what I mean) and GOT isn't, just impossible to compare.
2) OBV!!!!!!!!!!!!
3) Honestly I'm not informed enough to offer a worthwhile opinion on this (which I think is true of most people in most cases yet everyone always wants to offer their opinion and are sure they are right).
2) OBV!!!!!!!!!!!!
3) Honestly I'm not informed enough to offer a worthwhile opinion on this (which I think is true of most people in most cases yet everyone always wants to offer their opinion and are sure they are right).
Jan. 15, 2015
JLall,
Thanks for being in the well(nice to know that constant begging can work!)
1. Eli>Romo. Does that make me a homer? If the answer to that question is yes, does that make you more of a homer?
2. "That being said little old ladies like Levin and Weinstein manage to do well with their sound system;" That was just wrong, made me spit my coffee out laughing.
3. Liars poker- would you ever randomize or always go for the edge?
****Edit****
3. Sorry, meant to say Rock-paper-scissors
Thanks for being in the well(nice to know that constant begging can work!)
1. Eli>Romo. Does that make me a homer? If the answer to that question is yes, does that make you more of a homer?
2. "That being said little old ladies like Levin and Weinstein manage to do well with their sound system;" That was just wrong, made me spit my coffee out laughing.
3. Liars poker- would you ever randomize or always go for the edge?
****Edit****
3. Sorry, meant to say Rock-paper-scissors
Jan. 15, 2015
Steve Weinstein edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Weindog,
1) Eli>Romo has to be a troll, it's so ridiculous it's not even homer level. How exactly is Eli better than Romo?
Does he throw more accurately? Nope, in his career he has completed 59 % of his passe, Romo has completed over 65 %. That is really significant.
Ok he doesn't throw more accurately but he gains more yards per attempt right? Nah a Romo throw is worth about .8 yards more than an Eli throw over their career. That is a huge amount.
Ok but Eli throws more touchdowns surely? Nah Eli's TD % is 4.6 compared to Romo's 5.7(!!!)
Ok so Eli throws less picks?! Nah Eli's INT % is 3.3 compared to Romo's 2.6
Ok, but, umm...ELI IS MORE CLUTCH RIGHT?! Well, Eli has 26 4th quarter comebacks and 31 game winning drives. Romo has 24 and 28. Advantage Eli....until you realize romo has played about 10 % less games. Oops.
And let's not forget, Eli is a statue who cannot scramble or run. Romo is a lot better at evading tackles and using his legs to build plays.
But yeah Eli has 2 rings so he's obv better even though he is not just worse in every measurable stat other than sacks, he is SIGNIFICANTLY worse.
As far as randomizing vs playing for an edge, I'm always gonna play for an edge. If I wanted to randomize I would just not play.
1) Eli>Romo has to be a troll, it's so ridiculous it's not even homer level. How exactly is Eli better than Romo?
Does he throw more accurately? Nope, in his career he has completed 59 % of his passe, Romo has completed over 65 %. That is really significant.
Ok he doesn't throw more accurately but he gains more yards per attempt right? Nah a Romo throw is worth about .8 yards more than an Eli throw over their career. That is a huge amount.
Ok but Eli throws more touchdowns surely? Nah Eli's TD % is 4.6 compared to Romo's 5.7(!!!)
Ok so Eli throws less picks?! Nah Eli's INT % is 3.3 compared to Romo's 2.6
Ok, but, umm...ELI IS MORE CLUTCH RIGHT?! Well, Eli has 26 4th quarter comebacks and 31 game winning drives. Romo has 24 and 28. Advantage Eli....until you realize romo has played about 10 % less games. Oops.
And let's not forget, Eli is a statue who cannot scramble or run. Romo is a lot better at evading tackles and using his legs to build plays.
But yeah Eli has 2 rings so he's obv better even though he is not just worse in every measurable stat other than sacks, he is SIGNIFICANTLY worse.
As far as randomizing vs playing for an edge, I'm always gonna play for an edge. If I wanted to randomize I would just not play.
Jan. 15, 2015
Not to chime in here, but Peyton's numbers over his career poopoo all over Romo's and Eli's by considerable margins. But playoffs and big games are things, evidenced by Dalton/Peyton/Romo/other notorious chokers. Same reason Flacco gets the big bucks, that clutch gene is real, Eli in January > Romo in January (granted small sample size)
Jan. 15, 2015
If clutch is real then clutch is predictive. Every study has shown that clutch cannot be demonstrated in a predictive manner. And yes I think Peyton is the greatest QB ever. There is a lot of randomness that goes into a sport that has 16 game seasons, few plays per games where some are extremely high leverage, and an entire gigantic team. Trying to reason from a few plays from a few games that someone is clutch or someone is a choker rather than just realizing that it is normal for some lucky guys to be considered clutch because of a few high leverage spots and a few unlucky guys to be considered chokers, and that we should judge players on their entire body of work and forget about this "clutch" thing seems irrational to me.
Jan. 15, 2015
Peyton in particular is a sore spot for me because he is the GOAT at QB and will never be recognized that way because of the playoff performances. With him, it is an absurd drop-off in statistics between regular season and playoffs. Number for Dalton are similar in the outrageous drop-offs during playoff or nationally televised games. You compete at a high level, and your skill translates in the toughest events, undoubtedly there are players who do not. This is not a Bill Buckner one play thing with some of these guys, it is a strong body of evidence over a long period.
That said, I was trolling by adding Romo in there, he is money all the time, and the cowgirls would be 4-12 at best every year without him.
That said, I was trolling by adding Romo in there, he is money all the time, and the cowgirls would be 4-12 at best every year without him.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin,
Are you or have you ever been big on bridge books? Got a favourite? What did you think of the Rodwell files?
I feel I have learnt a lot from your blog and the stuff you post on BBF so thanks for that. Would be great to see you do something with video etc at you mention above. Having said that you write very well so perhaps we will see The Lall Files one day!
Are you or have you ever been big on bridge books? Got a favourite? What did you think of the Rodwell files?
I feel I have learnt a lot from your blog and the stuff you post on BBF so thanks for that. Would be great to see you do something with video etc at you mention above. Having said that you write very well so perhaps we will see The Lall Files one day!
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Ambrose,
As a teenager I read hundreds of bridge books, I loved to read them. I don't read them as much anymore, but I did enjoy the Rodwell files a lot.
My favorite books from an entertainment point of view were the Bridge in The Menagerie books by Mollo. As far as learning, everything Reese did was brilliant. Kelsey also, but I preferred the Reese style. Adventures in Cardplay was another classic that can show you how amazing bridge can be.
Glad you have enjoyed my blog and posts, thanks.
As a teenager I read hundreds of bridge books, I loved to read them. I don't read them as much anymore, but I did enjoy the Rodwell files a lot.
My favorite books from an entertainment point of view were the Bridge in The Menagerie books by Mollo. As far as learning, everything Reese did was brilliant. Kelsey also, but I preferred the Reese style. Adventures in Cardplay was another classic that can show you how amazing bridge can be.
Glad you have enjoyed my blog and posts, thanks.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin,
You mentioned earlier that you play big club in most of your partnerships so this doesn't apply, but can you expand on the superiority and virtue of Flannery in a 2/1 context and why is it that there are so few Apostles to these superior methods?
Danke
You mentioned earlier that you play big club in most of your partnerships so this doesn't apply, but can you expand on the superiority and virtue of Flannery in a 2/1 context and why is it that there are so few Apostles to these superior methods?
Danke
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Aaron,
I don't really love Flannery nor do I hate it. That seems to make me unique, people seem to fall on one end of the spectrum or the other. I think it's great for 1H p 1S to show 5 and to be able to hide spades, and also to take that hand type out of your 1H opener, so I think it solves a real problem and has lots of benefits. That being said, I love my weak 2D opener. So even though I think Flannery is good, I'm not sure it's better than a weak 2D opener.
I do like playing Kaplan Inversion where 1H p 1N shows 5+ spades, and 1H p 1S is 0-4 spades (leaving room to find a 4-4 spade fit). It is not as good as Flannery but it's a reasonable compromise in order to retain the 2D opener.
I don't really love Flannery nor do I hate it. That seems to make me unique, people seem to fall on one end of the spectrum or the other. I think it's great for 1H p 1S to show 5 and to be able to hide spades, and also to take that hand type out of your 1H opener, so I think it solves a real problem and has lots of benefits. That being said, I love my weak 2D opener. So even though I think Flannery is good, I'm not sure it's better than a weak 2D opener.
I do like playing Kaplan Inversion where 1H p 1N shows 5+ spades, and 1H p 1S is 0-4 spades (leaving room to find a 4-4 spade fit). It is not as good as Flannery but it's a reasonable compromise in order to retain the 2D opener.
Jan. 15, 2015
Jlall,
I don't know much about Pringles, don't eat them, but as a former chef tasting was my thing. Try a blind test, eating the same flavor both ways (someone else inserting the chip, you not looking) and really focus on tasting the difference, if any.
Two Bob Hamman questions: did his mentoring you when you were young keep you from going too far into the "cocky, talented young stud" thing that so many early stars in many fields fall into? And I'm an avid road biker, so I was wondering if Lance's name has ever come up, and if so, how mad does Bob get when referring to him? (For bridge people who don't follow bike racing, Bob's insurance company paid out large amounts to events that Lance Armstrong cheated at to win. I believe they've sued to recover the money.)
And on the top pros: some top players seem to fall somewhere on the Aspberger's spectrum, with great numerical and poor social skills, while others have strong people skills and table feel. Do you think one type has an edge? Thanks again.
I don't know much about Pringles, don't eat them, but as a former chef tasting was my thing. Try a blind test, eating the same flavor both ways (someone else inserting the chip, you not looking) and really focus on tasting the difference, if any.
Two Bob Hamman questions: did his mentoring you when you were young keep you from going too far into the "cocky, talented young stud" thing that so many early stars in many fields fall into? And I'm an avid road biker, so I was wondering if Lance's name has ever come up, and if so, how mad does Bob get when referring to him? (For bridge people who don't follow bike racing, Bob's insurance company paid out large amounts to events that Lance Armstrong cheated at to win. I believe they've sued to recover the money.)
And on the top pros: some top players seem to fall somewhere on the Aspberger's spectrum, with great numerical and poor social skills, while others have strong people skills and table feel. Do you think one type has an edge? Thanks again.
Jan. 15, 2015
What are your non-standard defensive agreements ?
Do you tend to lead more passive or more agressive than the field ?
Do you tend to lead more passive or more agressive than the field ?
Jan. 15, 2015
I play pretty standard defensive agreements actually, I don't do any 0/2 in the middle of the hand or 2nd/4th through dummy etc. I give lots of suit preference and with some people I play suit pref at trick 2 vs NT (in smith situations). I think it's better than smith since most of the time the attitude in the suit led is known, and the important thing is which side suit you have high cards in.
You could also just play smith if attitude about the opening lead suit is unknown, otherwise smith, which many people play.
I dunno, I prefer rusinow leads even vs suits which is weird I guess. Rusinow vs NT with king as the unblock vs NT is really money (and lots of people play that now).
You could also just play smith if attitude about the opening lead suit is unknown, otherwise smith, which many people play.
I dunno, I prefer rusinow leads even vs suits which is weird I guess. Rusinow vs NT with king as the unblock vs NT is really money (and lots of people play that now).
Jan. 15, 2015
Sry forgot to answer your second question. I am a passive leader in general and often like to lead trumps (sorry Bob!). The game has become so aggressive with game bidding if you have any kind of shape and a fit that a trump lead is often the best way to combat that, cut down on ruffs and wait for your tricks. Same with people playing such light 3Ns on "power" that often not blowing a trick is the best way to go, if you have a 5 card suit obviously lead it but something like Jxxx is really unappealing to me unless I have no alternative.
I will lead aggressively in obvious situations when the auction calls for it (3H p 4H or 3N based on a long suit etc).
I will lead aggressively in obvious situations when the auction calls for it (3H p 4H or 3N based on a long suit etc).
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Mark,
I am going to buy some Pringles today and do exactly what you said.
I would like to be honest and say that I was never a "cocky, young talented stud," but I think it is hard for a teenager who keeps being told how good they are to not have those thoughts. Honestly, some of that is probably good, it gives you confidence and enables you to be fearless. I was definitely overboard on the cocky though. I think what brings people out of that is simply growing up. We are all way more cocky and fearless in our teens than we are in our 20s, and I imagine in my 30s I'll be even less of that than I am now.
People who fall into that and keep thinking it will go nowhere. At some point you realize how good some of these guys are and instead of "I'm gonna crush them they'll never see me coming" it turns into "well if I work hard enough and learn from them maybe one day I'll be better." I think that's a natural progression in everything, most of the smartest kids in HS go to college and realize how many smarter people there are than them for instance, which is no doubt a new feeling. Then they get less cocky.
As far as Lance, Bob never really says anything other than make a joke if you bring it up. His personality away from the table is just like it is at the table, the Lance hand is over to him and there's nothing left to do and he's not going to whine or show emotion over a past board!
As far as the types of top pros, I am not sure which has an advantage in being good at bridge, but in terms of playing bridge as your profession the ones with social skills definitely have a leg up. To be hired to play bridge at a non major event like a national, someone has to actually want to be around you for a week as well as compare with you. If you have bad social skills you will struggle finding people who are willing to hire you for a regional.
I am going to buy some Pringles today and do exactly what you said.
I would like to be honest and say that I was never a "cocky, young talented stud," but I think it is hard for a teenager who keeps being told how good they are to not have those thoughts. Honestly, some of that is probably good, it gives you confidence and enables you to be fearless. I was definitely overboard on the cocky though. I think what brings people out of that is simply growing up. We are all way more cocky and fearless in our teens than we are in our 20s, and I imagine in my 30s I'll be even less of that than I am now.
People who fall into that and keep thinking it will go nowhere. At some point you realize how good some of these guys are and instead of "I'm gonna crush them they'll never see me coming" it turns into "well if I work hard enough and learn from them maybe one day I'll be better." I think that's a natural progression in everything, most of the smartest kids in HS go to college and realize how many smarter people there are than them for instance, which is no doubt a new feeling. Then they get less cocky.
As far as Lance, Bob never really says anything other than make a joke if you bring it up. His personality away from the table is just like it is at the table, the Lance hand is over to him and there's nothing left to do and he's not going to whine or show emotion over a past board!
As far as the types of top pros, I am not sure which has an advantage in being good at bridge, but in terms of playing bridge as your profession the ones with social skills definitely have a leg up. To be hired to play bridge at a non major event like a national, someone has to actually want to be around you for a week as well as compare with you. If you have bad social skills you will struggle finding people who are willing to hire you for a regional.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi:) 1. Who are your top five singers or bands?
2. What is your favorite song right now?
2. What is your favorite song right now?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Stef,
1. Taylor Swift
2. Taylor Swift
3. Taylor Swift
4. Taylor Swift
5. Taylor Swift
If you banned her and made me give a list of 6-10, in no particular order I'd go with Pink Floyd, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Staind, Eminem, The Beatles.
As far as my favorite song right now... Blank Space by Taylor Swift?
1. Taylor Swift
2. Taylor Swift
3. Taylor Swift
4. Taylor Swift
5. Taylor Swift
If you banned her and made me give a list of 6-10, in no particular order I'd go with Pink Floyd, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Staind, Eminem, The Beatles.
As far as my favorite song right now... Blank Space by Taylor Swift?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi PhantomSac,
I wanted to second Timo's comments about how nice it's been having you hang around BBO (even as I've drifted away--but back sometimes).
My question is about a poker playing slot machine. I recall a year or three ago this machine was rolled out and you had the chance to play against it. Can you comment at all on your thoughts of it's abilities or your strategies to probe it? Were you able to figure out how to get into it?
-Ben
I wanted to second Timo's comments about how nice it's been having you hang around BBO (even as I've drifted away--but back sometimes).
My question is about a poker playing slot machine. I recall a year or three ago this machine was rolled out and you had the chance to play against it. Can you comment at all on your thoughts of it's abilities or your strategies to probe it? Were you able to figure out how to get into it?
-Ben
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Ben,
Actually my roll was before it was rolled out. The basic premise was a really smart neural net programmer had made a program that could potentially beat any human. It had a learned but frozen strategy and did not adapt so it had to be able to beat any strategy of play.
My only "real job" that I've ever had was going into an office and working with the programmer and the project manager as well as a couple of others. My role was simply to try and beat each version over tens of thousands of hands, give a report on it's weaknesses and my strategy, and then the programmer would use that information to re-train it against itself with a new version. I hesitate to call that a real job :)
Anyways, it kept getting better and at some point I could no longer beat it, nor could any of the other experts who came in to give it a shot. I had an inherant edge since I could look at the probability of it doing certain things given certain betting actions, whereas a human would have to guesstimate that after playing it. So me not beating it was something, but if I overlooked something that would be very bad since that weakness could be exploited over and over again by someone who found it.
From there the idea was that it would become a rake free skill based slot machine. A totally new idea in the saturated slot machine market, one that would appeal to poker and game players looking for more skill and less luck. However getting it into casinos was difficult, the casinos were worried of course that it would not win and we could not prove probabilistically that it would not like most slot machines. Once the casinos were satisfied, the gaming commissions were worried it would win TOO MUCH and thus be illegal since that kind of thing is tightly regulated.
It was very gratifying when it all came to fruition and something I had worked so much on actually made it onto the casino floors.
Bob Hamman was instrumental on this project and the reason I was brought in. If you are interested to know more about it here is a long article. Bob was nice enough to mention me.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/magazine/poker-computer.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
These machines are still in casinos all over Las Vegas. I have not been involved with it in a long time though.
Actually my roll was before it was rolled out. The basic premise was a really smart neural net programmer had made a program that could potentially beat any human. It had a learned but frozen strategy and did not adapt so it had to be able to beat any strategy of play.
My only "real job" that I've ever had was going into an office and working with the programmer and the project manager as well as a couple of others. My role was simply to try and beat each version over tens of thousands of hands, give a report on it's weaknesses and my strategy, and then the programmer would use that information to re-train it against itself with a new version. I hesitate to call that a real job :)
Anyways, it kept getting better and at some point I could no longer beat it, nor could any of the other experts who came in to give it a shot. I had an inherant edge since I could look at the probability of it doing certain things given certain betting actions, whereas a human would have to guesstimate that after playing it. So me not beating it was something, but if I overlooked something that would be very bad since that weakness could be exploited over and over again by someone who found it.
From there the idea was that it would become a rake free skill based slot machine. A totally new idea in the saturated slot machine market, one that would appeal to poker and game players looking for more skill and less luck. However getting it into casinos was difficult, the casinos were worried of course that it would not win and we could not prove probabilistically that it would not like most slot machines. Once the casinos were satisfied, the gaming commissions were worried it would win TOO MUCH and thus be illegal since that kind of thing is tightly regulated.
It was very gratifying when it all came to fruition and something I had worked so much on actually made it onto the casino floors.
Bob Hamman was instrumental on this project and the reason I was brought in. If you are interested to know more about it here is a long article. Bob was nice enough to mention me.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/magazine/poker-computer.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
These machines are still in casinos all over Las Vegas. I have not been involved with it in a long time though.
Jan. 15, 2015
Sorry that I keep forgetting to click "reply" before posting. It makes it a little difficult to follow sometimes, my bad.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin,
My daughter Suzanne started playing with me at age 10, and after a year is still driven to play and getting better rapidly (she earned almost 50 MP with me, including a sliver of Platinum in the Roth in Vegas). I'm interested in your early years, and who you played with (my daughter so far only plays with me), how to get good teammates given an asymmetric father/daughter partnership, what level events to play in, whether you read lots of books or Bridge Worlds, and anything I can do help Suzanne retain interest and become a potentially great player.
Bill Campbell
My daughter Suzanne started playing with me at age 10, and after a year is still driven to play and getting better rapidly (she earned almost 50 MP with me, including a sliver of Platinum in the Roth in Vegas). I'm interested in your early years, and who you played with (my daughter so far only plays with me), how to get good teammates given an asymmetric father/daughter partnership, what level events to play in, whether you read lots of books or Bridge Worlds, and anything I can do help Suzanne retain interest and become a potentially great player.
Bill Campbell
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Bill,
That's great that your daughter likes bridge and is doing so well. I played mostly with my dad and my mom at that age, but also with some of the people at the club who took an interest in me and asked me to play.
I read everything I could get my hands on, bridge worlds and books alike. The one thing I didn't like to do was go over the hands. My mom wouldn't let me play at the club on school nights but once a week she would as long as I agreed to go over every hand with her afterwards. It was a good way to learn, and forced me to do it. I don't know if your daughter enjoys going over the hands but I think motivating her to do so will help her improve rapidly, you learn so much going over hands that you actually played.
I typically tried to play in open events only and get my butt kicked. Sometimes my parents would encourage me to play in flight C with someone or a 299er game or w/e if I was feeling discouraged just to remind me that I was good for my level. Some of both is probably best. As far as getting teammates, I'm sure a lot of people would enjoy being on a team with an 11 year old girl who is improving even if she's significantly worse than the rest of the team. People really enjoy giving back and contributing to the success and happiness of kids that young in my opinion. Just ask people or let it be known if your daughter wants to play in the top flight and needs teammates.
Eventually as she improves she will find people who want to play with her because of her skill also. At about 13 I had a lot of my own partners who were not "my parents friends" and that was also gratifying. Kind of spreading my own wings a little bit.
But yeah definitely reading and talking about hands that she played will make her become better a lot faster.
That's great that your daughter likes bridge and is doing so well. I played mostly with my dad and my mom at that age, but also with some of the people at the club who took an interest in me and asked me to play.
I read everything I could get my hands on, bridge worlds and books alike. The one thing I didn't like to do was go over the hands. My mom wouldn't let me play at the club on school nights but once a week she would as long as I agreed to go over every hand with her afterwards. It was a good way to learn, and forced me to do it. I don't know if your daughter enjoys going over the hands but I think motivating her to do so will help her improve rapidly, you learn so much going over hands that you actually played.
I typically tried to play in open events only and get my butt kicked. Sometimes my parents would encourage me to play in flight C with someone or a 299er game or w/e if I was feeling discouraged just to remind me that I was good for my level. Some of both is probably best. As far as getting teammates, I'm sure a lot of people would enjoy being on a team with an 11 year old girl who is improving even if she's significantly worse than the rest of the team. People really enjoy giving back and contributing to the success and happiness of kids that young in my opinion. Just ask people or let it be known if your daughter wants to play in the top flight and needs teammates.
Eventually as she improves she will find people who want to play with her because of her skill also. At about 13 I had a lot of my own partners who were not "my parents friends" and that was also gratifying. Kind of spreading my own wings a little bit.
But yeah definitely reading and talking about hands that she played will make her become better a lot faster.
Jan. 15, 2015
I also leart on a similar fashion with my dad being famous, many good players on the club volunteer for a session with me, however this might be related with my father being who he is.
But be careful with whoom teaches her, bad players want to be helpful but can often be opposite.
But be careful with whoom teaches her, bad players want to be helpful but can often be opposite.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin,
1. I played against you in 2011 in Seattle and you opened Qxx Jxx 10xxxx Jx in first seat all white with 2♦. How does your partnership cope with these wild preempts?
2. I read a blog of you that involves a bridge (not the game bridge) and I REALLY admire you for the guts to post it. Is this something that you are willing to share with bridge winners readers?
Thanks
1. I played against you in 2011 in Seattle and you opened Qxx Jxx 10xxxx Jx in first seat all white with 2♦. How does your partnership cope with these wild preempts?
2. I read a blog of you that involves a bridge (not the game bridge) and I REALLY admire you for the guts to post it. Is this something that you are willing to share with bridge winners readers?
Thanks
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Mike,
1) Hard to believe I did that unless I was on complete tilt or something! That seems like a terrible 2D bid to me and I don't know how my partners would cope with it. It is definitely not my normal style or what I would consider to be good bridge. Was it towards the end of a qualifying event or something? Perhaps I needed all tops to qualify, otherwise I don't know why I did that. If you remember the context I could maybe give a better answer.
2) Sure I am willing to share that story or answer questions about it or anything related to it.
1) Hard to believe I did that unless I was on complete tilt or something! That seems like a terrible 2D bid to me and I don't know how my partners would cope with it. It is definitely not my normal style or what I would consider to be good bridge. Was it towards the end of a qualifying event or something? Perhaps I needed all tops to qualify, otherwise I don't know why I did that. If you remember the context I could maybe give a better answer.
2) Sure I am willing to share that story or answer questions about it or anything related to it.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin,
1. I do remember very well the context. It was the second session of the first day of Blue Ribbon Pairs and you were playing with Ish, with whom you had just won LMP a few days earlier. I am not sure if you badly needed to Q (though I know that you easily Q-ed). I have to admit that I am not 100% sure that was your hand, but it WAS 2♦, it was 5332, it was VERY weak and the diamond suit was 5 to the 10. The board was average, but I just wondered how your partner could manage a wide range preempt other than using Ogust. I would appreciate any comment.
2. Here is the link for the benefit of others.
http://justinlall.com/tag/suicide/
1. I do remember very well the context. It was the second session of the first day of Blue Ribbon Pairs and you were playing with Ish, with whom you had just won LMP a few days earlier. I am not sure if you badly needed to Q (though I know that you easily Q-ed). I have to admit that I am not 100% sure that was your hand, but it WAS 2♦, it was 5332, it was VERY weak and the diamond suit was 5 to the 10. The board was average, but I just wondered how your partner could manage a wide range preempt other than using Ogust. I would appreciate any comment.
2. Here is the link for the benefit of others.
http://justinlall.com/tag/suicide/
Jan. 15, 2015
Sounds like I just made a terrible bid, I cannot explain why I did that and I don't think there is any way for that style to be good.
Jan. 15, 2015
I vote for Mike to be In The Well next week. Justin may stay away for awhile! PS I think I think it was ♦ T9876. No one is that much of "M" to miss the 9!!
Jan. 15, 2015
I always thought the only good way to play a weak 2♦ was to abuse it. Thx for being in the Well Justin. I think we played a few hands when you where in Canberra Australia a few years ago.
really appreciated your responses in this thread
really appreciated your responses in this thread
Jan. 15, 2015
In Australia I think Txxxx is a standard 3D opener since 2D would not be a weak 2!
Thanks Hamish.
Thanks Hamish.
Jan. 15, 2015
yes :)
well maybe in ♣. that's a bit rich for a ♦ pre-empt
well maybe in ♣. that's a bit rich for a ♦ pre-empt
Jan. 15, 2015
Just in case I ever want to apply for a research position, I decided to spent a few minutes investigating.
My conclusion is Board 25: http://www.acbl.org/nabc/2011/03/hand-records/85654m.pdf
FAVORABLE, not all white. ♦QJ975. Not exactly 5332
Now should I go get a life?
My conclusion is Board 25: http://www.acbl.org/nabc/2011/03/hand-records/85654m.pdf
FAVORABLE, not all white. ♦QJ975. Not exactly 5332
Now should I go get a life?
Jan. 15, 2015
Thanks for the research Debbie!
And Justin, you are just AMAZING how you figured out the context!
It was with 2 rounds to go in the second qualifying second session in BRP, you did have a 60% first session, but you ended up with 43% in this second session, so I believe you were worried you wouldn't make the cut
And Justin, you are just AMAZING how you figured out the context!
It was with 2 rounds to go in the second qualifying second session in BRP, you did have a 60% first session, but you ended up with 43% in this second session, so I believe you were worried you wouldn't make the cut
Jan. 15, 2015
Well in that case, I am impressed I restrained myself from opening 3! Favorable in first seat I definitely like aggressive preempting, and having short majors and a relatively good suit is another perfect time for it.
To answer the original question of how we cope we such a wide range first seat w/r, the range is not actually that wide as we might open 3 with a "normal" 2, and 4 with a "normal" 3, but even though it is a little wider than normal, we hope that we gain back the lost accuracy many times over by making their life more difficult. First seat, the odds are in our favor, 2 opponents and 1 pard. W/R, the vul is in our favor, we are unlikely to go for a massive number, or to go for a number versus nothing. Having short majors further stacks the odds in our favor, they are more likely to have a major suit fit and thus own a making game or partscore.
To answer the original question of how we cope we such a wide range first seat w/r, the range is not actually that wide as we might open 3 with a "normal" 2, and 4 with a "normal" 3, but even though it is a little wider than normal, we hope that we gain back the lost accuracy many times over by making their life more difficult. First seat, the odds are in our favor, 2 opponents and 1 pard. W/R, the vul is in our favor, we are unlikely to go for a massive number, or to go for a number versus nothing. Having short majors further stacks the odds in our favor, they are more likely to have a major suit fit and thus own a making game or partscore.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin Lall edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Er, Mike, I think the context Justin speculated was trying to come up with some explanation for the action you claimed he took, not the one he actually took. The one he actually took would be quite normal for many people.
Not to disagree that Justin is amazing:)
Not to disagree that Justin is amazing:)
Jan. 15, 2015
Yes Debbie, that exactly what amazed me. I was totally wrong, but he figured out a context in which my (wrong) hand would make sense for him.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin,
Great to have you here in The Well and I hope you can find to continue to contribute here as well as at BBO.
Great story and article about the poker bot. I worked with Dahl when he was finalizing his backgammon bot and as I've done with some of those bots which have surpassed it, I was the major consultant for playing strength.
I wonder if some NN training could help improve what I feel is the poor state, in comparison to other games of skill, of bridge programs today. However, bridge is not a game where the equity of a position or situation can easily (for bots) be expressed as a math equation.
Oh and I am twice your age and hate waiting two more months for Game of Thrones to come back on.
Great to have you here in The Well and I hope you can find to continue to contribute here as well as at BBO.
Great story and article about the poker bot. I worked with Dahl when he was finalizing his backgammon bot and as I've done with some of those bots which have surpassed it, I was the major consultant for playing strength.
I wonder if some NN training could help improve what I feel is the poor state, in comparison to other games of skill, of bridge programs today. However, bridge is not a game where the equity of a position or situation can easily (for bots) be expressed as a math equation.
Oh and I am twice your age and hate waiting two more months for Game of Thrones to come back on.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Neil,
If they have a site called backgammonwinners I think you should do a well on there haha. It was a weird combination of backgammon and bridge people coming together to make a poker bot.
I assume that bridge bots could definitely be improved in a number of ways, I don't think much time has been spent dedicated to doing so. Compare it to the resources of chess, poker, or backgammon bots. That being said I have no doubt that bridge is a much harder game for a computer to become good at.
If they have a site called backgammonwinners I think you should do a well on there haha. It was a weird combination of backgammon and bridge people coming together to make a poker bot.
I assume that bridge bots could definitely be improved in a number of ways, I don't think much time has been spent dedicated to doing so. Compare it to the resources of chess, poker, or backgammon bots. That being said I have no doubt that bridge is a much harder game for a computer to become good at.
Jan. 15, 2015
What is the correct lead against 6NT when you expect dummy to have a long solid suit and very little outside?
Jan. 15, 2015
Craig,
I still hate you for that one.
I was playing against Craig and dummy showed a solid suit and they got to 6N. I decided if dummy had a side card they were cold, and if they didn't by leading the suit I could force Craig to run the long suit before he had time to test anything, possibly squeezing his hand or misguessing what to do. I led the suit and dummy had nothing else...and declarer pitched on the opening lead. I'm going to need another 5 years to get over the sting of that!
I still hate you for that one.
I was playing against Craig and dummy showed a solid suit and they got to 6N. I decided if dummy had a side card they were cold, and if they didn't by leading the suit I could force Craig to run the long suit before he had time to test anything, possibly squeezing his hand or misguessing what to do. I led the suit and dummy had nothing else...and declarer pitched on the opening lead. I'm going to need another 5 years to get over the sting of that!
Jan. 15, 2015
I had some tenaces and partner had not preempted or opened gambling 3NT so I thought he would have *something* outside his suit. It was probably dumb. And Jlall's team ended up winning the match comfortably. I won't ask the obvious followup of how many years it'd take if we had!
Jan. 15, 2015
Then we wouldn't be on speaking terms!
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi jlall.
As someone who has also dealt with depression, I'm curious how your mental-health issues have affected your life and your bridge. Have any medications affected your ability to play bridge at a high level? How does the pressure of playing professionally affect you? Any tips for coping with depression as a bridge player?
Thanks again for being in the Well, and especially for being open about personal issues like this.
As someone who has also dealt with depression, I'm curious how your mental-health issues have affected your life and your bridge. Have any medications affected your ability to play bridge at a high level? How does the pressure of playing professionally affect you? Any tips for coping with depression as a bridge player?
Thanks again for being in the Well, and especially for being open about personal issues like this.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Adam,
Being bipolar definitely can have an impact on my bridge. When you're depressed sometimes you don't want to get out of bed let alone go and play bridge. The thing that saves me from that is even when I'm depressed, when I'm playing bridge I'm not. Or at least I don't think about it. Bridge is an escape from the depression, from everything, for 3 and a half hours you're just solving problems. IF and that's a big if, you can seperate the world and everything from bridge, then you can think of going and playing bridge as a positive thing. I feel crappy but at least I get to go play bridge. It's hard to think that way when you're feeling depressed but it works for me. So in that way, bridge is the only thing I want to do in those times.
By the way, seperating the world from bridge is good no matter what your mood is, all great bridge players are solely focused on bridge while they're playing. There is an old story of some expert (Reese?) playing a hand, and someone paid a nude woman to walk by the table. At the end of the hand he was asked if anything unusual happened and he said something about the layout of the hand like spades being 3-3 lol.
I do wonder sometimes if my mood can affect my bidding style even if I'm not thinking about it, for instance when depressed just passing more and not getting involved, when closer to manic wanting to bid all the time. I'm not really sure but it's possible.
Medications have definitely been an issue, if they make me feel slow or sluggish I won't take them. That is why I didn't take medicine for a long time which was not a great life decision! Currently my meds don't make me feel that way which is great.
The pressure of playing professionally doesn't really get to me, I love the pressure and whether I'm playing pro or not doesn't change the pressure to win. I guess I am comfortable that I play well enough to not get fired or at least if I do get fired to find another job so right now I am just focused on doing my best to win.
That being said, the lifestyle of bridge tournaments is really bad for someone who is bipolar. For instance the main thing that is recommended is a normal routine, a normal sleep schedule, etc but when you're travelling around and getting jet lagged and hanging out talking about bridge all night that is a way different routine than being home. Since I'm home half the time and gone half the time, it's really hard to have any kind of routine. I do think getting a good nights sleep is important, my hours are weird but I can sleep till noon for a 1 PM game time and that works for me.
Also you deal with extreme emotional highs and lows (winning and losing important matches), and even if you are the best you mostly lose. Those things are bad. However there are lots of positives. I am doing what I love. I am doing something that I am good at (makes you feel good). I am around my lifelong friends who are a great support system that I can talk to.
So you kind of work around the bad parts and focus on the good. Being realistic in your expectations is important. If you always are depressed when you lose and it lasts a long time, you have unrealistic expectations. I am depressed until the next event starts, then I have a new opportunity. I did alot of cognitive behavioral therapy so I try to use that and recognize bad thought patterns and challenge them and come up with new thought processes. That would be my tip to dealing with depression and bridge.
Being bipolar definitely can have an impact on my bridge. When you're depressed sometimes you don't want to get out of bed let alone go and play bridge. The thing that saves me from that is even when I'm depressed, when I'm playing bridge I'm not. Or at least I don't think about it. Bridge is an escape from the depression, from everything, for 3 and a half hours you're just solving problems. IF and that's a big if, you can seperate the world and everything from bridge, then you can think of going and playing bridge as a positive thing. I feel crappy but at least I get to go play bridge. It's hard to think that way when you're feeling depressed but it works for me. So in that way, bridge is the only thing I want to do in those times.
By the way, seperating the world from bridge is good no matter what your mood is, all great bridge players are solely focused on bridge while they're playing. There is an old story of some expert (Reese?) playing a hand, and someone paid a nude woman to walk by the table. At the end of the hand he was asked if anything unusual happened and he said something about the layout of the hand like spades being 3-3 lol.
I do wonder sometimes if my mood can affect my bidding style even if I'm not thinking about it, for instance when depressed just passing more and not getting involved, when closer to manic wanting to bid all the time. I'm not really sure but it's possible.
Medications have definitely been an issue, if they make me feel slow or sluggish I won't take them. That is why I didn't take medicine for a long time which was not a great life decision! Currently my meds don't make me feel that way which is great.
The pressure of playing professionally doesn't really get to me, I love the pressure and whether I'm playing pro or not doesn't change the pressure to win. I guess I am comfortable that I play well enough to not get fired or at least if I do get fired to find another job so right now I am just focused on doing my best to win.
That being said, the lifestyle of bridge tournaments is really bad for someone who is bipolar. For instance the main thing that is recommended is a normal routine, a normal sleep schedule, etc but when you're travelling around and getting jet lagged and hanging out talking about bridge all night that is a way different routine than being home. Since I'm home half the time and gone half the time, it's really hard to have any kind of routine. I do think getting a good nights sleep is important, my hours are weird but I can sleep till noon for a 1 PM game time and that works for me.
Also you deal with extreme emotional highs and lows (winning and losing important matches), and even if you are the best you mostly lose. Those things are bad. However there are lots of positives. I am doing what I love. I am doing something that I am good at (makes you feel good). I am around my lifelong friends who are a great support system that I can talk to.
So you kind of work around the bad parts and focus on the good. Being realistic in your expectations is important. If you always are depressed when you lose and it lasts a long time, you have unrealistic expectations. I am depressed until the next event starts, then I have a new opportunity. I did alot of cognitive behavioral therapy so I try to use that and recognize bad thought patterns and challenge them and come up with new thought processes. That would be my tip to dealing with depression and bridge.
Jan. 15, 2015
I have the impression that when I play with a headache and light fever I focus better as bridge gets all my attention.
Jan. 15, 2015
Fluffy,
That probably means you don't focus hard enough when you feel well, right?
That probably means you don't focus hard enough when you feel well, right?
Jan. 15, 2015
Say a friend of mine is a client who is interested in hiring you for a long-term commitment, but who is worried that you might drop out due to a setback, leaving him with half a team.
What could I tell him to convince him to hire you?
What could I tell him to convince him to hire you?
Jan. 15, 2015
I've had more problems with mania than depression. Have you had issues with mania affecting your bridge?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Arend,
There is not a huge amount you can tell them, sometimes they will just never want to take that risk. But I think that since the Brooklyn Bridge incident there has been a lot of time (6 years?) where nothing bad has happened, I've played a lot of bridge and been able to show up and perform well. I have been transparent about everything. But there is always some risk there that is not there for other people that would be options to hire. At the end of the day I think you could convince them the risk is small, but they would also have to believe I have more upside than the competition, someone with the exact same upside asking for the exact same amount of money with zero mental illness is just a better person to hire and you wouldn't be able to change that.
The fact that I was transparent that I was getting help, and a lot of time has passed and I've been doing well is the best hope. I knew when this happened initially there would be a lot of reluctance to hire me and I needed time to prove that some of the changes I made were real. The good thing is a lot of people want to give someone a shot and American culture loves a comeback story, I think if something happened again and established a consistent pattern that I was a risk to hire that would be a lot worse.
There is not a huge amount you can tell them, sometimes they will just never want to take that risk. But I think that since the Brooklyn Bridge incident there has been a lot of time (6 years?) where nothing bad has happened, I've played a lot of bridge and been able to show up and perform well. I have been transparent about everything. But there is always some risk there that is not there for other people that would be options to hire. At the end of the day I think you could convince them the risk is small, but they would also have to believe I have more upside than the competition, someone with the exact same upside asking for the exact same amount of money with zero mental illness is just a better person to hire and you wouldn't be able to change that.
The fact that I was transparent that I was getting help, and a lot of time has passed and I've been doing well is the best hope. I knew when this happened initially there would be a lot of reluctance to hire me and I needed time to prove that some of the changes I made were real. The good thing is a lot of people want to give someone a shot and American culture loves a comeback story, I think if something happened again and established a consistent pattern that I was a risk to hire that would be a lot worse.
Jan. 15, 2015
David,
Mania is honestly overall good for my bridge. I am very alert and see everything. Of course that could be what I think only because I'm in that state of mind lol. But FWIW I am bipolar 2 not bipolar 1. I am sure you know what that means but for people who don't, it basically means I have hypomanic episodes which are less severe than bipolar 1 manic episodes.
Mania is honestly overall good for my bridge. I am very alert and see everything. Of course that could be what I think only because I'm in that state of mind lol. But FWIW I am bipolar 2 not bipolar 1. I am sure you know what that means but for people who don't, it basically means I have hypomanic episodes which are less severe than bipolar 1 manic episodes.
Jan. 15, 2015
"But there is always some risk there that is not there for other people that would be options to hire."
I suspect the difference is not that you have this condition and others don't; it's that you're open and public about dealing with it and others may have similar struggles but keep them hidden. You can't "see" bipolar or depressive disorders, but they're there a lot more often than we realize.
I suspect the difference is not that you have this condition and others don't; it's that you're open and public about dealing with it and others may have similar struggles but keep them hidden. You can't "see" bipolar or depressive disorders, but they're there a lot more often than we realize.
Jan. 15, 2015
Brian,
Good point and I agree with that.
Good point and I agree with that.
Jan. 15, 2015
I should quickly add that I mean no criticism to anyone who chooses to keep their struggle to themselves. Everyone copes in their own way.
Jan. 15, 2015
People have all sorts of struggles; many simply are unseen. Or - they pop up out of the blue.
My admiration to Justin for his openness and honesty.
My admiration to Justin for his openness and honesty.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin: Could u say HI to your mom for me? I was once very close to your parents before I left Houston in 86.
One of my joys in those days was to discuss bridge with Hemant. He had such an ability to clearly explain the logic of his decisions. You have clearly profited from that.
One of my joys in those days was to discuss bridge with Hemant. He had such an ability to clearly explain the logic of his decisions. You have clearly profited from that.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Tom,
Absolutely. You left the year I was born! My dad is definitely a very logical thinker and I have tried to adopt his way of thinking. What are the clues, how do we weight them, what decision will we make.
Absolutely. You left the year I was born! My dad is definitely a very logical thinker and I have tried to adopt his way of thinking. What are the clues, how do we weight them, what decision will we make.
Jan. 15, 2015
Tom Allan said everything I was going to say - I haven't seen your mom in a long time, so also say Hi for me. IIRC, it was through Tom that I got on the Lall team.
Will we see you in your native city in two weeks?
Will we see you in your native city in two weeks?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey GG,
Unfortunately I will be in Wilmington the same week. I don't remember the last time I missed the Houston regional, it's definitely the one I've played the most and one of my favorites. I will pass along your regards to my mom though.
Unfortunately I will be in Wilmington the same week. I don't remember the last time I missed the Houston regional, it's definitely the one I've played the most and one of my favorites. I will pass along your regards to my mom though.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin,
No trump interference question. What is your favorite system to play over a strong NT, and what do you think are important factors for getting in over 1nt, besides the obvious vulnerability expectations. Would a hand like K10xx QJxxx Kx xx be something you'd want to show majors with opposite an unpassed partner in that kind of situation?
No trump interference question. What is your favorite system to play over a strong NT, and what do you think are important factors for getting in over 1nt, besides the obvious vulnerability expectations. Would a hand like K10xx QJxxx Kx xx be something you'd want to show majors with opposite an unpassed partner in that kind of situation?
Jan. 15, 2015
Yo,
Charley asked me my favorite system, I don't know how to link to it but basically I said landy.
I like to get in with the majors aggressively (and this is a lot easier to do with landy) since I think I might win the contract. I would bid with KTxx QJxxx Kx xx not vul, but I would not bid vul. With 5-5 I would bid a lot, with 5431 or 5422 I would want good suits or a good hand or to be not vul so I have some safety.
To overcall 2 of a suit I want basically what I would overcall with at the 2 level over anything else, a good 6 card suit is good enough (just as it would be for me over a 1S opener), With a weaker 6 card suit I would want a decent hand and with a 5 card suit I would want some shape and probably an opening bid. 5-5 I would be more aggressive I guess. Basically when I get in there I am hoping to win the contract and go plus instead of minus, and if I hit a really good fit maybe make a game.
Charley asked me my favorite system, I don't know how to link to it but basically I said landy.
I like to get in with the majors aggressively (and this is a lot easier to do with landy) since I think I might win the contract. I would bid with KTxx QJxxx Kx xx not vul, but I would not bid vul. With 5-5 I would bid a lot, with 5431 or 5422 I would want good suits or a good hand or to be not vul so I have some safety.
To overcall 2 of a suit I want basically what I would overcall with at the 2 level over anything else, a good 6 card suit is good enough (just as it would be for me over a 1S opener), With a weaker 6 card suit I would want a decent hand and with a 5 card suit I would want some shape and probably an opening bid. 5-5 I would be more aggressive I guess. Basically when I get in there I am hoping to win the contract and go plus instead of minus, and if I hit a really good fit maybe make a game.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin - two questions if I may
1. Who cut your hair man?
2. How soon can you get back to Australia?
nickf
sydney
1. Who cut your hair man?
2. How soon can you get back to Australia?
nickf
sydney
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Nick,
1. My hair is long again at least! I lost to Stefanie's son Aiden in ping pong because my hair was in my way. I got so mad that I had it shaved off. I really missed my hair but it grew back fast at least.
Now I am going to be a groomsman in Kevin Dwyer's wedding next week so I am going to get it cut pretty short again, but I won't have it all taken off this time.
2. I want to go back so badly. The problem is there are so many countries in the world I want to see, but a lot of them I am really eager to go back to as well. So the decision is always trying somewhere else versus going back to somewhere I've been. I'm sure I'll be back in Australia but I'm not sure when.
1. My hair is long again at least! I lost to Stefanie's son Aiden in ping pong because my hair was in my way. I got so mad that I had it shaved off. I really missed my hair but it grew back fast at least.
Now I am going to be a groomsman in Kevin Dwyer's wedding next week so I am going to get it cut pretty short again, but I won't have it all taken off this time.
2. I want to go back so badly. The problem is there are so many countries in the world I want to see, but a lot of them I am really eager to go back to as well. So the decision is always trying somewhere else versus going back to somewhere I've been. I'm sure I'll be back in Australia but I'm not sure when.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin,
Did you enjoy your recent visit to Ireland and your game in the Regent Bridge Club, Dublin, for our 90th Anniversary?
You played on this occasion with our own celebrity player, Tom Hanlon. Tom, like you, is generous in the sharing of his Bridge knowledge so....go raibh maith agat (thank you).
Will you return sometime for another Irish.. Céad Míle Fáilte (One thousand Welcomes)? :)
Did you enjoy your recent visit to Ireland and your game in the Regent Bridge Club, Dublin, for our 90th Anniversary?
You played on this occasion with our own celebrity player, Tom Hanlon. Tom, like you, is generous in the sharing of his Bridge knowledge so....go raibh maith agat (thank you).
Will you return sometime for another Irish.. Céad Míle Fáilte (One thousand Welcomes)? :)
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Mary,
I had an absolute blast in Dublin. I think my body is still recovering! Two stereotypes about Irish people are absolutely true, they are extremely friendly and they know how to drink!
I have played some with Tom in USA at the nationals and it's a totally different level of stress and intensity. It was amazing to see him at his home club in Ireland relaxed and charming and having fun. It rubbed off on me, the whole atmosphere was really relaxed and friendly. It was a great time.
As for will I be back, see my answer to Nick above about going back to Australia! So many awesome countries to visit, but I have a long time to travel so I will definitely be back, it's just a question of when.
I had an absolute blast in Dublin. I think my body is still recovering! Two stereotypes about Irish people are absolutely true, they are extremely friendly and they know how to drink!
I have played some with Tom in USA at the nationals and it's a totally different level of stress and intensity. It was amazing to see him at his home club in Ireland relaxed and charming and having fun. It rubbed off on me, the whole atmosphere was really relaxed and friendly. It was a great time.
As for will I be back, see my answer to Nick above about going back to Australia! So many awesome countries to visit, but I have a long time to travel so I will definitely be back, it's just a question of when.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin, congratulations. No new questions, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading your answers. Well done.
Jan. 15, 2015
Fred Stewart edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Thanks Justin for coming on and giving a unique & interesting viewpoint on multiple aspects of the game.
If you could go back in time to the early days when Hamman started mentoring you, what would your advice to the younger you be?
If you could go back in time to the early days when Hamman started mentoring you, what would your advice to the younger you be?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Will,
I would probably tell myself to listen more to the advice people are giving me, be more disciplined rather than just doing random stuff because it's fun or I'm bored, and to study more of the parts of the game that are "boring" to me like mathematical/technical hands, weird squeezes etc.
I have always liked the part of cardplay where you try to figure out their hand rather than the part where it's more of a double dummy type of problem or a problem where it's straight math. It's good to focus on what you are weak at not where you do well, but it's less fun. Just like being more disciplined and less wild is less fun.
But at the end of the day, winning and playing well is the most fun thing there is, but it's hard to appreciate that at that age.
I would probably tell myself to listen more to the advice people are giving me, be more disciplined rather than just doing random stuff because it's fun or I'm bored, and to study more of the parts of the game that are "boring" to me like mathematical/technical hands, weird squeezes etc.
I have always liked the part of cardplay where you try to figure out their hand rather than the part where it's more of a double dummy type of problem or a problem where it's straight math. It's good to focus on what you are weak at not where you do well, but it's less fun. Just like being more disciplined and less wild is less fun.
But at the end of the day, winning and playing well is the most fun thing there is, but it's hard to appreciate that at that age.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin,
1) At what level of competition would you put an ACBL robot game on BBO? Is the competition on the level of a local club game, sectional, or regional?
2) If you entered 10 ACBL robot games against Joe Grue, Roger Lee, and leftfoot, who would win the most?
1) At what level of competition would you put an ACBL robot game on BBO? Is the competition on the level of a local club game, sectional, or regional?
2) If you entered 10 ACBL robot games against Joe Grue, Roger Lee, and leftfoot, who would win the most?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Leo,
Question 1 is tough to answer. You are playing bridge against the robots, I would say the robots card play is definitely regional level, but their bidding is bad, so maybe they're like sectional level? But you are comparing your score against other players. It is a weird field because sometimes there are very good players in the event, but there are also some inexperienced players.
The interesting thing about robot duplicates is it is a much purer test of skill than any form of game at any level in the ACBL. You face the same exact decisions and you get to play a large majority of the hands, so good judgement and good play means that the top players will almost always be high up there, even in only 12 boards, and the weaker players have very little chance.
2) Since it is a pure test of skill as I said, obviously I would come out on top. Haha.
Question 1 is tough to answer. You are playing bridge against the robots, I would say the robots card play is definitely regional level, but their bidding is bad, so maybe they're like sectional level? But you are comparing your score against other players. It is a weird field because sometimes there are very good players in the event, but there are also some inexperienced players.
The interesting thing about robot duplicates is it is a much purer test of skill than any form of game at any level in the ACBL. You face the same exact decisions and you get to play a large majority of the hands, so good judgement and good play means that the top players will almost always be high up there, even in only 12 boards, and the weaker players have very little chance.
2) Since it is a pure test of skill as I said, obviously I would come out on top. Haha.
Jan. 15, 2015
JLall what was the robodoop bet you and JDonn had a few years ago?
Jan. 15, 2015
Jdonn and I did a bet on the robot races, not the robot duplicates. We just bet who could score higher over some number of them. He was much faster than me and I think got a board per race in more than me, so I was betting that I could overcome that by having more time to think/higher skill. I believe he won.
I also made a bet with clee that I could average 70 in the robot duplicates. I think I was at 67-68 or something with not enough to go and quit.
I made some errors in both bets. In the one with jdonn, I should have played on a desktop with a mouse. Playing on a laptop with no mouse was really a bad idea since getting in lots of hands is very important.
In the bet with clee I played too many per day. I played like 24 or something in one day and not shockingly I got fatigued and tilted and started playing worse. I also had a few low 50 games early which when you're betting that you can average 70 percent really hurts you.
If I were to make the bet with clee again I would think the line should be 69 and I would only play 5 a day and really focus and take my time. 70 was probably unrealistic.
By the way, this proves my point of how different these are than real life bridge in terms of having way more skill involved. To average 68 or 69 is not possible in live bridge because there is too much luck and randomness.
I also made a bet with clee that I could average 70 in the robot duplicates. I think I was at 67-68 or something with not enough to go and quit.
I made some errors in both bets. In the one with jdonn, I should have played on a desktop with a mouse. Playing on a laptop with no mouse was really a bad idea since getting in lots of hands is very important.
In the bet with clee I played too many per day. I played like 24 or something in one day and not shockingly I got fatigued and tilted and started playing worse. I also had a few low 50 games early which when you're betting that you can average 70 percent really hurts you.
If I were to make the bet with clee again I would think the line should be 69 and I would only play 5 a day and really focus and take my time. 70 was probably unrealistic.
By the way, this proves my point of how different these are than real life bridge in terms of having way more skill involved. To average 68 or 69 is not possible in live bridge because there is too much luck and randomness.
Jan. 15, 2015
It should also be noted that these bets are really good even if you lose, they make you a better player and make you test yourself. So I am happy I made them despite the bad result!
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin,
Two more questions for you:
1) What do you think you would have done for a living if it was not through bridge or poker?
2) Do you think a bridge player (with the exception of someone like Greco) can reach the highest level of the game with a separate full-time job? Can a player reach the top level if they only play pro in the nationals and a handful of regionals in a year? Therefore, they would not be playing as much as most of the top players that are full-time bridge pros.
Two more questions for you:
1) What do you think you would have done for a living if it was not through bridge or poker?
2) Do you think a bridge player (with the exception of someone like Greco) can reach the highest level of the game with a separate full-time job? Can a player reach the top level if they only play pro in the nationals and a handful of regionals in a year? Therefore, they would not be playing as much as most of the top players that are full-time bridge pros.
Jan. 15, 2015
Leo,
1) I think I would have tried to be a computer programmer. It seems like their job is to find creative and efficient ways to solve problems which appeals to me. It also offers flexibility and you see the rewards of your work immediately. Experience/skill is valued above formal education.
2) I would have thought that you could not reach the top without being a full time player but there are enough counterexamples to disprove this (Greco, Hamman, Fred Gitelman, others). I think the key is just that at some point in your life (the earlier the better) bridge is your primary focus and you really study it. If after that period you have a different job but continue to play the high level stuff, you can probably be at the top while maintaining another job. I am very impressed by people who can do this though.
1) I think I would have tried to be a computer programmer. It seems like their job is to find creative and efficient ways to solve problems which appeals to me. It also offers flexibility and you see the rewards of your work immediately. Experience/skill is valued above formal education.
2) I would have thought that you could not reach the top without being a full time player but there are enough counterexamples to disprove this (Greco, Hamman, Fred Gitelman, others). I think the key is just that at some point in your life (the earlier the better) bridge is your primary focus and you really study it. If after that period you have a different job but continue to play the high level stuff, you can probably be at the top while maintaining another job. I am very impressed by people who can do this though.
Jan. 15, 2015
Chip Martel, who's been a college professor for a long time.
What's Greco's job?
What's Greco's job?
Jan. 15, 2015
Yes, Chip is a great example. There are many others also of course. Greco is a trader.
Jan. 15, 2015
Greetings Justin. I met you at the BBO forum and you became an important opinion and source of bridge knowledge. I have also advertised you to my students.
Last week saw the passing away of Ernesto D'orsi an important figure of the bridge world, and especially the South American bridge scene, and a very loved and estimated individual. He also happened to be an important sponsor for South American bridge players and will leave an unfillable hole in our zone. Humans have not achieved immortality yet, so, my first question is, do you think there will be a new generation of sponsors (I just read you'd be one, if you won the lottery) in the near future? Do you think bridge needs a new kind of sponsorship?
I also read in one of your answers that you're still learning bridge. What exactly do you want to learn or haven't learnt yet?
Have a nice one Jlall, hope to see more of you at the BBO forum! And the (un)promised bridge videoblog.
Last week saw the passing away of Ernesto D'orsi an important figure of the bridge world, and especially the South American bridge scene, and a very loved and estimated individual. He also happened to be an important sponsor for South American bridge players and will leave an unfillable hole in our zone. Humans have not achieved immortality yet, so, my first question is, do you think there will be a new generation of sponsors (I just read you'd be one, if you won the lottery) in the near future? Do you think bridge needs a new kind of sponsorship?
I also read in one of your answers that you're still learning bridge. What exactly do you want to learn or haven't learnt yet?
Have a nice one Jlall, hope to see more of you at the BBO forum! And the (un)promised bridge videoblog.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Hanoi,
Thanks for your endorsement!
I think as some sponsors die, new sponsors are coming into the game. If you look at the scene in USA the age of the top sponsors is getting younger, not older. People will always love and be passionate about bridge, maybe always is too strong but I think at least in my life time.
I do think getting other kinds of sponsorship would be great, but I don't think it will be necessary.
Based on what I heard about Ernesto you are right that his loss will leave a huge void in the South American bridge scene. I didn't know him very well but that news is really sad.
What do I want to learn that I haven't yet... that is a tough question. If I knew already then I wouldn't need to learn it! I would like to continue to improve on my judgement, improve on accurately reading the cards, improve on not giving away too much information while still not confusing my partner, improve on knowing where the line is exactly in pushing them around and making life difficult on the opps while not going too far and taking too much risk or being too random for my partner to be able to judge what to do. Improve on playing my A game more often, and improve on how bad my "bad" game is. Tons of things like that, just improving overall, increasing my knowledge and understanding of the game, and improving my execution of what I know.
See you on BBF!
Thanks for your endorsement!
I think as some sponsors die, new sponsors are coming into the game. If you look at the scene in USA the age of the top sponsors is getting younger, not older. People will always love and be passionate about bridge, maybe always is too strong but I think at least in my life time.
I do think getting other kinds of sponsorship would be great, but I don't think it will be necessary.
Based on what I heard about Ernesto you are right that his loss will leave a huge void in the South American bridge scene. I didn't know him very well but that news is really sad.
What do I want to learn that I haven't yet... that is a tough question. If I knew already then I wouldn't need to learn it! I would like to continue to improve on my judgement, improve on accurately reading the cards, improve on not giving away too much information while still not confusing my partner, improve on knowing where the line is exactly in pushing them around and making life difficult on the opps while not going too far and taking too much risk or being too random for my partner to be able to judge what to do. Improve on playing my A game more often, and improve on how bad my "bad" game is. Tons of things like that, just improving overall, increasing my knowledge and understanding of the game, and improving my execution of what I know.
See you on BBF!
Jan. 15, 2015
Retrospectively thinking of your past play, what percentage of the time do you play at your very top level? Do you think this (being able to play at your top level) is a place that a pro has a big edge over a typical amateur player? When you aren't at your top level, what do you think is usually the cause?
Do Stefanie and Aiden play bridge? What do they think of your bridge play?
Do Stefanie and Aiden play bridge? What do they think of your bridge play?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Michael,
Great question. I would say I play at my very top level rarely. But I do think you are touching on something important. The edge a top player has over an amateur is that their worst game is much, much better. I think it is more important to improve your consistentcy and the level of your F game, and to almost always play your B game at least, or at worst the C game. It's hard to play your A game most of the time, but look at someone like Helgemo. How bad is he at his worst? Pretty damn good. That is what makes him so hard to beat.
I don't know exactly what causes me to not play my A game all the time. Sometimes it's confidence. If I have confidence I will be more willing to trust my judgement and if that works, you have more confidence, and all of the sudden you just know you know what's happening at the table and you're going to back that judgement. Likewise if I don't have confidence I may feel more gunshy about backing my judgement, more clouded in figuring out what's happening, etc. Sleep definitely factors into this also. Sometimes adrenaline can be a negative thing and cause me to be too active and not playing my best.
But yeah a large part of becoming better is being more consistent and not playing terribly sometimes and great sometimes, more like ok sometimes, good usually, great sometimes.
Stefanie loves bridge and has about 300 masterpoints. Her goal is to be life master, she has the gold point requirement down and has made the final day of the national imp pairs, but the black point requirement is going to be hard. It seems to me like it's too high, 75 black points is a lot of club games, but I understand they do it to support the clubs. Stefanie used to teach horseback riding and became an accredited teacher and teaches some complete beginners now. I think she does a much better job than I could do, I have no idea how to go about teaching people who don't even know the rules of the game!
Aiden has no interest in bridge right now but he thinks it's "cool" when I show him medals or go to a foreign country. Before anyone asks, he doesn't have interest because he loves sports and doing things outdoor which I think is totally fine also!
Great question. I would say I play at my very top level rarely. But I do think you are touching on something important. The edge a top player has over an amateur is that their worst game is much, much better. I think it is more important to improve your consistentcy and the level of your F game, and to almost always play your B game at least, or at worst the C game. It's hard to play your A game most of the time, but look at someone like Helgemo. How bad is he at his worst? Pretty damn good. That is what makes him so hard to beat.
I don't know exactly what causes me to not play my A game all the time. Sometimes it's confidence. If I have confidence I will be more willing to trust my judgement and if that works, you have more confidence, and all of the sudden you just know you know what's happening at the table and you're going to back that judgement. Likewise if I don't have confidence I may feel more gunshy about backing my judgement, more clouded in figuring out what's happening, etc. Sleep definitely factors into this also. Sometimes adrenaline can be a negative thing and cause me to be too active and not playing my best.
But yeah a large part of becoming better is being more consistent and not playing terribly sometimes and great sometimes, more like ok sometimes, good usually, great sometimes.
Stefanie loves bridge and has about 300 masterpoints. Her goal is to be life master, she has the gold point requirement down and has made the final day of the national imp pairs, but the black point requirement is going to be hard. It seems to me like it's too high, 75 black points is a lot of club games, but I understand they do it to support the clubs. Stefanie used to teach horseback riding and became an accredited teacher and teaches some complete beginners now. I think she does a much better job than I could do, I have no idea how to go about teaching people who don't even know the rules of the game!
Aiden has no interest in bridge right now but he thinks it's "cool" when I show him medals or go to a foreign country. Before anyone asks, he doesn't have interest because he loves sports and doing things outdoor which I think is totally fine also!
Jan. 15, 2015
Nice job on the Well, 18 hours!
We'll see you in Houston soon, I hope.
We'll see you in Houston soon, I hope.
Jan. 15, 2015
When will I be permitted to forget that I once made you sit through 15 minutes of Dog Day Afternoon?
Jan. 15, 2015
The introduction says your favorite partner is your father. Did he do anything that you recall to get you interested in bridge? I have a 16 year old who loves games, but there has been nothing I can say or do to get her interested in bridge. Of course, your father is much better at bridge than me, which has to help.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Richard,
I wouldn't say my dad did anything to get me interested in the game. Even once I started playing, I liked playing with my mom more since she was more able to help me improve early on. Once I got more competent, I absolutely loved playing with my dad and we had the best time. By then I also worshipped how good he was, of course.
I also loved games but I still had no real interest in playing, at 10 they were able to get me to go to the bridge club with them (even though I was not planning on playing), but at 16 you can't really do that haha. There's not a lot you can do if she is not interested I guess. My sister for example was just never interested in learning the game even though she played hearts and spades and other games with us.
I wouldn't say my dad did anything to get me interested in the game. Even once I started playing, I liked playing with my mom more since she was more able to help me improve early on. Once I got more competent, I absolutely loved playing with my dad and we had the best time. By then I also worshipped how good he was, of course.
I also loved games but I still had no real interest in playing, at 10 they were able to get me to go to the bridge club with them (even though I was not planning on playing), but at 16 you can't really do that haha. There's not a lot you can do if she is not interested I guess. My sister for example was just never interested in learning the game even though she played hearts and spades and other games with us.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey again -
I heard you dropped out of high school to pursue bridge. Is that true? How did your parents deal with that? And would you do it again knowing what you know now?
Thanks
I heard you dropped out of high school to pursue bridge. Is that true? How did your parents deal with that? And would you do it again knowing what you know now?
Thanks
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Mario,
Yes that is true. I needed one parents consent to do it and my mom gave it to me because she knew I was set on being a bridge pro and was miserable in school and wasn't going to go to college anyways (I got my GED which is like taking a test and placing out of high school).
My dad tried really hard to talk me out of that decision. He comes from India and the main value that was instilled into him was that you will never be anything without an education. He grew up poor but worked hard and went to the best college in India and was able to come to USA for grad school (as is the case for most of his 4 siblings). My dad has multiple degrees including a masters and was almost done with his PHD when, ironically, he dropped out of his PHD to become a bridge pro!
So coming from that background he really wanted me to finish school and go to college so I had a backup plan. To his credit, once I dropped out of HS and there was nothing he could do, he tried his best to help me with my bridge career.
I would do it again because I know the bridge thing worked out for me. I would not really recommend it to anyone though, if bridge did not work out I would have been in bad shape and there are no guarantees. I had really good SAT scores and good extracurriculars (bridge!), but my GPA was like 1.4 and I was bottom 10th percentile in my grades. I really hated school and loved bridge and knew I had a good shot to succeed. But it was still probably a little bit reckless.
I was lucky because bridge was slow in the beginning but poker kind of popped up. I was then lucky when I moved to NYC and started playing with Kevin and lived in the "junior house" with Hurd, Grue, Kranyak, and Kevin. They were all older than me and were established pros there and helped me get started, without them it would have been a lot harder. So everything just timed out well for me perfectly and I have to admit I didn't know at the time that I dropped out that it was going to be that way.
Yes that is true. I needed one parents consent to do it and my mom gave it to me because she knew I was set on being a bridge pro and was miserable in school and wasn't going to go to college anyways (I got my GED which is like taking a test and placing out of high school).
My dad tried really hard to talk me out of that decision. He comes from India and the main value that was instilled into him was that you will never be anything without an education. He grew up poor but worked hard and went to the best college in India and was able to come to USA for grad school (as is the case for most of his 4 siblings). My dad has multiple degrees including a masters and was almost done with his PHD when, ironically, he dropped out of his PHD to become a bridge pro!
So coming from that background he really wanted me to finish school and go to college so I had a backup plan. To his credit, once I dropped out of HS and there was nothing he could do, he tried his best to help me with my bridge career.
I would do it again because I know the bridge thing worked out for me. I would not really recommend it to anyone though, if bridge did not work out I would have been in bad shape and there are no guarantees. I had really good SAT scores and good extracurriculars (bridge!), but my GPA was like 1.4 and I was bottom 10th percentile in my grades. I really hated school and loved bridge and knew I had a good shot to succeed. But it was still probably a little bit reckless.
I was lucky because bridge was slow in the beginning but poker kind of popped up. I was then lucky when I moved to NYC and started playing with Kevin and lived in the "junior house" with Hurd, Grue, Kranyak, and Kevin. They were all older than me and were established pros there and helped me get started, without them it would have been a lot harder. So everything just timed out well for me perfectly and I have to admit I didn't know at the time that I dropped out that it was going to be that way.
Jan. 15, 2015
Just a heads up, I am planning on leaving the well in an hour and a half to make it a full 24 hours. If anyone is thinking of asking a question and hasn't then do it soon!
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Justin,
Thanks for being in the well! What is your favorite memory from junior bridge?
Thanks for being in the well! What is your favorite memory from junior bridge?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Drew,
I can't narrow that down to 1! The most exciting win was definitely in Australia. We were down about 35 with one set to go in the finals. At some point, Kranyak and Grue get to a slam that needs 3-2 trumps. Trumps are 4-1 and the Poles stopped in game. I am watching on Vugraph and want to cry. Somehow Joe Grue makes it! He plays AQ8x opp Kxxx by playing king and low to the 8 after RHO played one of the 9/T/J on the first round! He actually had a great reason for doing it. We get to overtime and win.
That was my first world championship win, in the excitement of overtime, after the excitement of Joe's play. It was thrilling. If that was NFL or something it would go down as one of the greatest things in sporting history!
In other ways, winning in Thailand was more satisfying. In Australia I was the third pair, and we were considered big underdogs to Poland. Next time they had the same core team, and we lost our best pair (Hurd-Wooldridge) and added Josh Donn and Jason Feldman who were not nearly as well known. People gave us no chance. Now playing 2/3rds of the boards I had more of a role, and we cruised to victory! It felt good after everyone kept saying we had no chance.
As far as my favorite memory for social reasons, I have to go with Hungary. It was my first junior tournament, the accomodations were amazing, and I made life long friends. I hung out with you and Jason Rosenfeld and Tim Crank and played random games all night, I hung out with one of the people who still to this day, 11 or 12 years later, is one of my best friends (Jeremy Fournier), and I really found a bond with a lot of the juniors who were older than me. It was an awesome time and really got me hooked. It's too bad they don't have those junior camps anymore, it was the greatest thing ever to me at the time.
Edit: Sorry because I'm feeling nostalgic, I think that was the first junior tournament I played with Ari, who ended up being my partner for multiple world junior teams (and two wins). It was where I got to know Jdonn well, who I ended up living with and became such a good friend. It's where I got to first hang out with the junior stars, who all ended up being my friends and teammates. And I think it was probably your LAST junior tournament, it's funny how these things come full circle.
I can't narrow that down to 1! The most exciting win was definitely in Australia. We were down about 35 with one set to go in the finals. At some point, Kranyak and Grue get to a slam that needs 3-2 trumps. Trumps are 4-1 and the Poles stopped in game. I am watching on Vugraph and want to cry. Somehow Joe Grue makes it! He plays AQ8x opp Kxxx by playing king and low to the 8 after RHO played one of the 9/T/J on the first round! He actually had a great reason for doing it. We get to overtime and win.
That was my first world championship win, in the excitement of overtime, after the excitement of Joe's play. It was thrilling. If that was NFL or something it would go down as one of the greatest things in sporting history!
In other ways, winning in Thailand was more satisfying. In Australia I was the third pair, and we were considered big underdogs to Poland. Next time they had the same core team, and we lost our best pair (Hurd-Wooldridge) and added Josh Donn and Jason Feldman who were not nearly as well known. People gave us no chance. Now playing 2/3rds of the boards I had more of a role, and we cruised to victory! It felt good after everyone kept saying we had no chance.
As far as my favorite memory for social reasons, I have to go with Hungary. It was my first junior tournament, the accomodations were amazing, and I made life long friends. I hung out with you and Jason Rosenfeld and Tim Crank and played random games all night, I hung out with one of the people who still to this day, 11 or 12 years later, is one of my best friends (Jeremy Fournier), and I really found a bond with a lot of the juniors who were older than me. It was an awesome time and really got me hooked. It's too bad they don't have those junior camps anymore, it was the greatest thing ever to me at the time.
Edit: Sorry because I'm feeling nostalgic, I think that was the first junior tournament I played with Ari, who ended up being my partner for multiple world junior teams (and two wins). It was where I got to know Jdonn well, who I ended up living with and became such a good friend. It's where I got to first hang out with the junior stars, who all ended up being my friends and teammates. And I think it was probably your LAST junior tournament, it's funny how these things come full circle.
Jan. 15, 2015
Justin Lall edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Hey, Justin, do you play in any local club games?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Chris,
Not really anymore. When I lived in Las Vegas I actually played at the club once a week or so when I was home, almost always with my friend Sheri Weinstock, but to be honest I play so many tournaments now that I don't need to get my "bridge fix" by playing at the club. I really value my down time at home where I can be with my friends and loved ones. If I happen to need a bridge fix I just play a robot duplicate on BBO or some money bridge on bridge big.
I do try to play at local sectionals with Jeremy Fournier or my dad or something like that for fun if I am in town.
Not really anymore. When I lived in Las Vegas I actually played at the club once a week or so when I was home, almost always with my friend Sheri Weinstock, but to be honest I play so many tournaments now that I don't need to get my "bridge fix" by playing at the club. I really value my down time at home where I can be with my friends and loved ones. If I happen to need a bridge fix I just play a robot duplicate on BBO or some money bridge on bridge big.
I do try to play at local sectionals with Jeremy Fournier or my dad or something like that for fun if I am in town.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi JLall,
Thank you again for donating your time for The Longest Day Team in 2014. 2 questions
1) Will you do it again for 2015?
2) Do you think it is appropriate to intertwine charity efforts into bridge?
Thank you again for donating your time for The Longest Day Team in 2014. 2 questions
1) Will you do it again for 2015?
2) Do you think it is appropriate to intertwine charity efforts into bridge?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Lindsey,
No problem it was a good experience and a good cause.
1) SINCE YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT ME ON THE SPOT I'LL GO WITH "WE'LL SEE" :)
2) Absolutely, why not? Anything that has value to people can be intertwined with charity, whether it is time with a bridge pro or art or money, it doesn't matter! I think it is cool that people like you are willing to put in all the time and effort required to raise money for charity, it is easy to say you are pro-charity and donate an hour of bridge or some money, it's harder to actually spend the amount of time required to organize such an event. Kudos to you and people like you.
No problem it was a good experience and a good cause.
1) SINCE YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT ME ON THE SPOT I'LL GO WITH "WE'LL SEE" :)
2) Absolutely, why not? Anything that has value to people can be intertwined with charity, whether it is time with a bridge pro or art or money, it doesn't matter! I think it is cool that people like you are willing to put in all the time and effort required to raise money for charity, it is easy to say you are pro-charity and donate an hour of bridge or some money, it's harder to actually spend the amount of time required to organize such an event. Kudos to you and people like you.
Jan. 15, 2015
I think you mean it was a fantastic experience as i was the one that bought you.
Jan. 15, 2015
JLall: Thanks for being in the well. I IM'd gnomie to tell him about this but I think he's just too busy at work but I am sure he sends his best.
Its been great fun on the forums with you and seeing you at NABC's. I remember the dark days and what you went through. An enterprising Hollywood producer could make a pretty cool movie out of your life so far. You've really come a long way since that night and its awesome.
Great to see you at BW - hope PhantomSac has some time to spend over here too.
Its been great fun on the forums with you and seeing you at NABC's. I remember the dark days and what you went through. An enterprising Hollywood producer could make a pretty cool movie out of your life so far. You've really come a long way since that night and its awesome.
Great to see you at BW - hope PhantomSac has some time to spend over here too.
Jan. 15, 2015
Thanks Phil... I'm not sure I'd want to see that movie though lol.
I definitely waste too much time to do both BBF and bridgewinners as well as all the time I spend lurking/posting on 2+2! BBF has been my "home" for like 10 years, but bridgewinners has such a great site dedicated to having an internet bridge community that it is inevitable that it will crush BBF. Already a lot of the regulars there post more on here now.
That is the cycle of the internet though, before BBF there was rec.games.bridge forever, and then BBF crushed it. Before BBO, OKBridge was super dominant as I'm sure you remember. These things happen and it's for the best. I am super impressed with BW and their community.
Thanks for the kind words btw, it's funny how long we've known each other on internet communities and the occasional real life encounter (sometimes epic encounter!). Send Gnome my regards.
I definitely waste too much time to do both BBF and bridgewinners as well as all the time I spend lurking/posting on 2+2! BBF has been my "home" for like 10 years, but bridgewinners has such a great site dedicated to having an internet bridge community that it is inevitable that it will crush BBF. Already a lot of the regulars there post more on here now.
That is the cycle of the internet though, before BBF there was rec.games.bridge forever, and then BBF crushed it. Before BBO, OKBridge was super dominant as I'm sure you remember. These things happen and it's for the best. I am super impressed with BW and their community.
Thanks for the kind words btw, it's funny how long we've known each other on internet communities and the occasional real life encounter (sometimes epic encounter!). Send Gnome my regards.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey bud,
Curious if you have opinions on
1 the appearance of some pairs having unfair advantages (COUGHING and the like)
2 is this happening more now as bridge is becoming a job for more and more people.
3 more likely with foreign pairs?
4 any hope of stopping it/adding security.
Curious if you have opinions on
1 the appearance of some pairs having unfair advantages (COUGHING and the like)
2 is this happening more now as bridge is becoming a job for more and more people.
3 more likely with foreign pairs?
4 any hope of stopping it/adding security.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Mikey,
You were not verified but I know you asked your questions before I stopped, so I'd like to answer them!
1) Some pairs have unfair advantages to different degrees, but I think that straight up cheating is very uncommon because the top bridge world is largely self policed (we all know when it's happening and those people and people willing to hire them are largely shunned). I think a bigger problem is the level of unethicalness of some pairs, basically doing what they can get away with without being shunned.
2) I mean, logically yeah the more money in the game the more incentives there are to try and cheat. Bridge is a big business now so the incentives are hire so more people are going to try. Imagine if the top pairs got, say, 5 million a year. In a game that is so easy to cheat I bet you'd see WAY more people trying. However the fact that your peers have to respect you and top players will know when they're getting cheated, and the social pressure surrounding it, at least helps mitigate it. But yeah from an economics point of view the more at stake, the more people will try to cheat.
3) 100 % no. Americans are just as likely to cheat as foreigners. I guess you could argue in very poor countries where the value of the dollar is much higher in some countries they have more incentives to cheat, but basically I think it is the same regardless of country for the most part. I mean aren't Americans poor compared to the Euro? I guess we should be more likely to cheat then :P
4) Sadly, not really. Better technology can help us detect it more but it can also help people who are trying to cheat more. It is a fundamental flaw in bridge, it is too easy to cheat. Poker players can't believe it when I tell them about partnership games but full disclosure and basically honor system.
You were not verified but I know you asked your questions before I stopped, so I'd like to answer them!
1) Some pairs have unfair advantages to different degrees, but I think that straight up cheating is very uncommon because the top bridge world is largely self policed (we all know when it's happening and those people and people willing to hire them are largely shunned). I think a bigger problem is the level of unethicalness of some pairs, basically doing what they can get away with without being shunned.
2) I mean, logically yeah the more money in the game the more incentives there are to try and cheat. Bridge is a big business now so the incentives are hire so more people are going to try. Imagine if the top pairs got, say, 5 million a year. In a game that is so easy to cheat I bet you'd see WAY more people trying. However the fact that your peers have to respect you and top players will know when they're getting cheated, and the social pressure surrounding it, at least helps mitigate it. But yeah from an economics point of view the more at stake, the more people will try to cheat.
3) 100 % no. Americans are just as likely to cheat as foreigners. I guess you could argue in very poor countries where the value of the dollar is much higher in some countries they have more incentives to cheat, but basically I think it is the same regardless of country for the most part. I mean aren't Americans poor compared to the Euro? I guess we should be more likely to cheat then :P
4) Sadly, not really. Better technology can help us detect it more but it can also help people who are trying to cheat more. It is a fundamental flaw in bridge, it is too easy to cheat. Poker players can't believe it when I tell them about partnership games but full disclosure and basically honor system.
Jan. 16, 2015
Werewolf: Retired, semi-retired, or just too busy?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Dave,
I love werewolf. It started with live Mafia at the nationals late into the night, such a pure awesome game. Even when I was active on 2+2 it was almost always Turbos because I cannot commit 2 weeks to playing a long game since I am rarely not playing at a tournament for 2 weeks straight.
I guess I'm retired from turbos, like I said I have too many time leaks as it is and Stefanie might kill me if I come home after being gone for 3 weeks straight and say oh I'm gonna spend all my time on the internet! I still might play an occasional one when I have nothing to do though. I don't even know 90 % of the players now.
I love werewolf. It started with live Mafia at the nationals late into the night, such a pure awesome game. Even when I was active on 2+2 it was almost always Turbos because I cannot commit 2 weeks to playing a long game since I am rarely not playing at a tournament for 2 weeks straight.
I guess I'm retired from turbos, like I said I have too many time leaks as it is and Stefanie might kill me if I come home after being gone for 3 weeks straight and say oh I'm gonna spend all my time on the internet! I still might play an occasional one when I have nothing to do though. I don't even know 90 % of the players now.
Jan. 15, 2015
Obvious solution is get her to play.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Justin.
That was so nice for you to give your all today. Have you ever thought of playing any nationwide American Bridge Association games? Difficult to do 3 North American Bridge Championships and 2 American Bridge Association Nationals the same year. The nationwide games are at the clubs about 4 times a year.
That was so nice for you to give your all today. Have you ever thought of playing any nationwide American Bridge Association games? Difficult to do 3 North American Bridge Championships and 2 American Bridge Association Nationals the same year. The nationwide games are at the clubs about 4 times a year.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Tanya,
To be honest I know nothing about them. I would definitely be interested in playing one of these nationwide club games though and will look into it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
To be honest I know nothing about them. I would definitely be interested in playing one of these nationwide club games though and will look into it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Jan. 15, 2015
The first one is Headquarters game on a Wednesday in March. We also have Benefit game on a Wednesday in June, Scholarship games (Friday night and Saturday day) in late September and National Open Pairs(Friday night and Saturday morning) in mid-December. You get to compete across the floor and get extra points.
Jan. 15, 2015
Tanya Rodich edited this comment Jan. 15, 2015
Of the top twenty players in the world, most of them have formed long term partnerships of over 10 years' duration, or over 35 years in the case of Meckwell. Of those twenty world class experts, you are one of the few who has not. Do you have a vague plan to form a long term regular partnership at some stage, and do you think that would help your ambition to be the best player in the world?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Peter,
Kevin Bathurst has always been my main partner. In the last 7 years I would guess I've played at least 100 weeks of bridge with him. Even though we have not played at the nationals for quite a while, that is still a ton of bridge. On top of that we have played in multiple US team trials, we room together at regionals, eat together, drink together, we lived together for several years, and we did play nationals for a while (including beating Nickell when they were considered unbeatable in a Spingold or Vanderbilt!).
People who don't follow the regional circuit might not know that, but that is a ton of bridge and a ton of time together, we know each others styles inside and out. He had a great partnership with Dan Zagorin and was very successful. Starting in the summer of this year, Kevin and I will be playing the trials and the nationals on a team with Diamond/Platnick and Greco/Hampson. I'm really excited about it but I don't look at it as forming a new partnership.
Definitely being part of a top pair is a huge part of being one of the best, it is a partnership game and being in a high level partnership elevates your game and allows you to focus solely on improving one partnership which is really nice. I am looking forward to it.
Kevin Bathurst has always been my main partner. In the last 7 years I would guess I've played at least 100 weeks of bridge with him. Even though we have not played at the nationals for quite a while, that is still a ton of bridge. On top of that we have played in multiple US team trials, we room together at regionals, eat together, drink together, we lived together for several years, and we did play nationals for a while (including beating Nickell when they were considered unbeatable in a Spingold or Vanderbilt!).
People who don't follow the regional circuit might not know that, but that is a ton of bridge and a ton of time together, we know each others styles inside and out. He had a great partnership with Dan Zagorin and was very successful. Starting in the summer of this year, Kevin and I will be playing the trials and the nationals on a team with Diamond/Platnick and Greco/Hampson. I'm really excited about it but I don't look at it as forming a new partnership.
Definitely being part of a top pair is a huge part of being one of the best, it is a partnership game and being in a high level partnership elevates your game and allows you to focus solely on improving one partnership which is really nice. I am looking forward to it.
Jan. 15, 2015
Thanks. I wondered because I'm one of those people who never set out to form a long term partnership and occasionally wonders what might have been.
Jan. 15, 2015
Do you have any advice for managing 5 or 6 person teams? How do you personally handle sitting out of team events and are you able to use the breaks to relax, or do you get anxious about how your team is doing? Do you watch your teammates on VuGraph (if they are on)?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hi Michael,
Well I'm sure it's wrong to watch your team when they are on Vugraph. But I'm not going to lie, I always do it (unless I am sleeping). I do it in a passive way though, like I have it up and I'm browsing the internet then I look at the results and maybe go quickly through the play. I don't sweat each card.
I think that definitely you should use that time to relax. I have always been a 2/3/4 player since I like to stay up late and sleep in late, so I usually just sleep in then shower and browse the internet/relax. Everyone is different though, some people don't like to play 3 sets in a row so they like 2 or 3 off. Just do whatever is most comfortable to you. One big thing about me that is not true of other top players is I really don't like talking about hands in the middle of the session. If necessary I'll get room service and be alone for dinner just to avoid the endless bridge talk. THAT is really tiring for me and I avoid it until the end of the day.
People always laugh because they ask what my teammates did on a board and I never know... I don't keep score and I don't ask them or talk about hands.
Well I'm sure it's wrong to watch your team when they are on Vugraph. But I'm not going to lie, I always do it (unless I am sleeping). I do it in a passive way though, like I have it up and I'm browsing the internet then I look at the results and maybe go quickly through the play. I don't sweat each card.
I think that definitely you should use that time to relax. I have always been a 2/3/4 player since I like to stay up late and sleep in late, so I usually just sleep in then shower and browse the internet/relax. Everyone is different though, some people don't like to play 3 sets in a row so they like 2 or 3 off. Just do whatever is most comfortable to you. One big thing about me that is not true of other top players is I really don't like talking about hands in the middle of the session. If necessary I'll get room service and be alone for dinner just to avoid the endless bridge talk. THAT is really tiring for me and I avoid it until the end of the day.
People always laugh because they ask what my teammates did on a board and I never know... I don't keep score and I don't ask them or talk about hands.
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Justin: 3 questions for ya:
1. What do you think is our best bet for promoting youth bridge? How do we get young people in the United States interested in learning bridge?
2. What is the most challenging defense vs your strong club? What is the most annoying for you to play against?
3. At what point did you know it was right for you to go full-time bridge and quit the day job at SCA Promo?
1. What do you think is our best bet for promoting youth bridge? How do we get young people in the United States interested in learning bridge?
2. What is the most challenging defense vs your strong club? What is the most annoying for you to play against?
3. At what point did you know it was right for you to go full-time bridge and quit the day job at SCA Promo?
Jan. 15, 2015
One question:
When exactly do I need to get 10k to beat your record?
When exactly do I need to get 10k to beat your record?
Jan. 15, 2015
Hey Adam,
1. This is a really hard question. I have wrote in the past about focusing on the things that appeal to all young people rather than focusing on why bridge is such a great game. Bridge can get you free trips to places, you can meet cool people including GIRLS, you can compete even if you're not an athlete. You can be part of a community/meet people. If you get a group who plays together, that's even better. No one cares *before* they play bridge that bridge is so awesome. They care about the potential upside. From there, once they learn bridge, a lot of them will stick with it. The game will handle itself, so just get people into the game by highlighting the possible benefits. Why do teenagers start playing poker? Of course, the possible financial gain, even if it's unlikely.
2. I love when people play suction or other 2 suited stuff. They just tell me the hand especially when the other guy makes a pass or correct jump, and when they do have a big fit they have to give me room (in case their partner has the other hand type) so we are not pressured. There is a reason almost every single good pair plays something like X=majors and whatever. Opponents who preempt to the 3 level a ton are scary, that can really screw you and the only effective defense is to just double them a lot at the 3 level even without a big stack and that is super volatile/random.
3. The timeline wasn't really like that. It was roughly something like I dropped out of school, I was trying to play online for money and getting some work and making a name for myself, while taking all club games/setionals/supervised play lessons I could get. Not exactly glamorous. Then poker came around and that bought me some time, so I was playing a lot of poker while still taking any bridge stuff I could get (bridge was always the dream, it wasn't about the money). At this time Hamman asked me to join this poker bot project as he knew I played a lot of poker and was doing well. I specifically said I will not be an employee, and I want to be able to travel whenever any bridge came up, so I was an independent contractor. Eventually the opportunity to play with Kevin and move to NY came up so I took it. Something like that happening was always the plan and Bob understood.
1. This is a really hard question. I have wrote in the past about focusing on the things that appeal to all young people rather than focusing on why bridge is such a great game. Bridge can get you free trips to places, you can meet cool people including GIRLS, you can compete even if you're not an athlete. You can be part of a community/meet people. If you get a group who plays together, that's even better. No one cares *before* they play bridge that bridge is so awesome. They care about the potential upside. From there, once they learn bridge, a lot of them will stick with it. The game will handle itself, so just get people into the game by highlighting the possible benefits. Why do teenagers start playing poker? Of course, the possible financial gain, even if it's unlikely.
2. I love when people play suction or other 2 suited stuff. They just tell me the hand especially when the other guy makes a pass or correct jump, and when they do have a big fit they have to give me room (in case their partner has the other hand type) so we are not pressured. There is a reason almost every single good pair plays something like X=majors and whatever. Opponents who preempt to the 3 level a ton are scary, that can really screw you and the only effective defense is to just double them a lot at the 3 level even without a big stack and that is super volatile/random.
3. The timeline wasn't really like that. It was roughly something like I dropped out of school, I was trying to play online for money and getting some work and making a name for myself, while taking all club games/setionals/supervised play lessons I could get. Not exactly glamorous. Then poker came around and that bought me some time, so I was playing a lot of poker while still taking any bridge stuff I could get (bridge was always the dream, it wasn't about the money). At this time Hamman asked me to join this poker bot project as he knew I played a lot of poker and was doing well. I specifically said I will not be an employee, and I want to be able to travel whenever any bridge came up, so I was an independent contractor. Eventually the opportunity to play with Kevin and move to NY came up so I took it. Something like that happening was always the plan and Bob understood.
Jan. 15, 2015
Thanks everyone, it's been an interesting 24 hours! Y'all had some great questions, but it's time to step out of the well.
Jan. 15, 2015
Damn! I've been enjoying this so much my Coke just exploded in the freezer.
Jan. 15, 2015
Thanks, Justin, for being in the Well. Actually, it's still Thursday on the West Coast, so I hope you don't mind if I ask one more question. I just learned to my dismay that Bob Rosen, the long-time coach for the USA Junior team, just passed. Do you have any thoughts or stories you'd like to share with us about Bob?
Jan. 16, 2015
Eugene,
That is truly awful news. Bob Rosen was one of the greatest and coolest guys I know. I would like to share several stories about this man.
For starters, when Ari and I were going to join the amazing team of Grue-Kranyak Wooldridge-Hurd, I of course thought I was the best player and was being disrespected to play the minimum. I also hated all authority. We do a training session playing the US team trials. Bob Rosen already knows the other 4 well, so he sits down next to me to watch Ari and me.
I am super skeptical of this guy who I perceive to likely be an old, down the middle guy. I am playing against Levin and Weinstein and I randomly stiff my king allowing them to make it. I wasn't squeezed, but of course they will just hook and I'll cash my winners. After the hand I whisper to Bob "I did that just to fuck with them." I know Levin and Weinstein won't be thrown off by this, really I just did it to mess with Bob. I wanted to show him I wasn't going to take his authority. I wasn't gonna be bossed around.
I go outside and I see Bob talking very quickly and it's about this hand. I'm pleased I've shown my captain that I hate authority. Old guy is probably ripping me a new one. I overhear what he has to say... "And this kid said he did it just to fuck with them! Levin and Weinstein in the trials! And he's just messing with them. I LOVE HIM."
Woah. This guy is like me! I came to really like and respect my new captain. I get to my first world junior teams and Bob Rosen gives us a lecture. Ok, fine, now we will get it. He says "I am officially a representative of the USBF, but I represent you guys. If anything happens you come to me first, and I am on your side." Talk about camaraderie. I completely respect this man who I don't know very well. He says things like "I'm not going to teach you guys bridge, you know how to play. But I'm going to get the best out of you." Most of the time he's part therapist, part cheerleader, but then things are going bad. Bob sits us down and he doesn't explain that we're playing badly. He explains that we are not playing up to our standard. And he is disappointed. And we will be disappointed with ourselves if we don't live up to our standard. And you know what? I felt bad for disappointing Bob, and he was right we better start performing better. He didn't say you're too aggressive, you're too this, you're too that. Just, you can do better, and we all know it. That really sunk in, and we performed better and ended up winning.
I came to learn, Bob Rosen was exactly like me in spirit. He was spunky. He was a fighter. HE hated authority. What an amazing guy. Next time he's my captain, we are in Thailand. I remember two incidents. The first, I'm in the vugraph room and I perceive the pro European commentators to be really hard on the Americans, and really soft on the Euros. This seems biased and unfair to me. My natural instinct? Raise hell. That could get me into trouble or cause an incident, Bob effortlessly without me saying anything perceives my frustration and in front of the whole room calls out the vugraph commentators. He did that for me. If there is an incident, it's on him. He protected me from myself, and completely defused my anger. The next is when the butler comes out, and I think Jdonn and Feldman would have won it. They played more than enough to qualify for the medal, but to be on the butler requires far more than the minimum medal requirement. Josh, a mild mannered guy, points out that this is BS, and Bob says "Josh, do you want me to raise hell? I will raise hell for you. That is not right." Josh wasn't expecting that and of course said oh no, but that's Bob. He's a players captain, and he never taught us bridge but he totally got the best out of us. If we were distracted by random BS he would take up the fight for us, so we could just play. And Bob was one of the most successful captains of all time.
I grew to love and respect and adore this guy. Old in body, young in mind and spirit. I felt like we should go drinking and picking up girls together lol. It is funny looking back how my first instinct was to challenge his authority and show him I don't put up with that, he was the exact same!
Bob, I will miss you, and I'm pretty sure I speak for our whole junior team. You were one of a kind, and even as you're gone you will continue to get the best out of me.
That is truly awful news. Bob Rosen was one of the greatest and coolest guys I know. I would like to share several stories about this man.
For starters, when Ari and I were going to join the amazing team of Grue-Kranyak Wooldridge-Hurd, I of course thought I was the best player and was being disrespected to play the minimum. I also hated all authority. We do a training session playing the US team trials. Bob Rosen already knows the other 4 well, so he sits down next to me to watch Ari and me.
I am super skeptical of this guy who I perceive to likely be an old, down the middle guy. I am playing against Levin and Weinstein and I randomly stiff my king allowing them to make it. I wasn't squeezed, but of course they will just hook and I'll cash my winners. After the hand I whisper to Bob "I did that just to fuck with them." I know Levin and Weinstein won't be thrown off by this, really I just did it to mess with Bob. I wanted to show him I wasn't going to take his authority. I wasn't gonna be bossed around.
I go outside and I see Bob talking very quickly and it's about this hand. I'm pleased I've shown my captain that I hate authority. Old guy is probably ripping me a new one. I overhear what he has to say... "And this kid said he did it just to fuck with them! Levin and Weinstein in the trials! And he's just messing with them. I LOVE HIM."
Woah. This guy is like me! I came to really like and respect my new captain. I get to my first world junior teams and Bob Rosen gives us a lecture. Ok, fine, now we will get it. He says "I am officially a representative of the USBF, but I represent you guys. If anything happens you come to me first, and I am on your side." Talk about camaraderie. I completely respect this man who I don't know very well. He says things like "I'm not going to teach you guys bridge, you know how to play. But I'm going to get the best out of you." Most of the time he's part therapist, part cheerleader, but then things are going bad. Bob sits us down and he doesn't explain that we're playing badly. He explains that we are not playing up to our standard. And he is disappointed. And we will be disappointed with ourselves if we don't live up to our standard. And you know what? I felt bad for disappointing Bob, and he was right we better start performing better. He didn't say you're too aggressive, you're too this, you're too that. Just, you can do better, and we all know it. That really sunk in, and we performed better and ended up winning.
I came to learn, Bob Rosen was exactly like me in spirit. He was spunky. He was a fighter. HE hated authority. What an amazing guy. Next time he's my captain, we are in Thailand. I remember two incidents. The first, I'm in the vugraph room and I perceive the pro European commentators to be really hard on the Americans, and really soft on the Euros. This seems biased and unfair to me. My natural instinct? Raise hell. That could get me into trouble or cause an incident, Bob effortlessly without me saying anything perceives my frustration and in front of the whole room calls out the vugraph commentators. He did that for me. If there is an incident, it's on him. He protected me from myself, and completely defused my anger. The next is when the butler comes out, and I think Jdonn and Feldman would have won it. They played more than enough to qualify for the medal, but to be on the butler requires far more than the minimum medal requirement. Josh, a mild mannered guy, points out that this is BS, and Bob says "Josh, do you want me to raise hell? I will raise hell for you. That is not right." Josh wasn't expecting that and of course said oh no, but that's Bob. He's a players captain, and he never taught us bridge but he totally got the best out of us. If we were distracted by random BS he would take up the fight for us, so we could just play. And Bob was one of the most successful captains of all time.
I grew to love and respect and adore this guy. Old in body, young in mind and spirit. I felt like we should go drinking and picking up girls together lol. It is funny looking back how my first instinct was to challenge his authority and show him I don't put up with that, he was the exact same!
Bob, I will miss you, and I'm pretty sure I speak for our whole junior team. You were one of a kind, and even as you're gone you will continue to get the best out of me.
Jan. 16, 2015
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