The Setting Trick: Conversations with World Class Bridge Players
The Setting Trick features conversations with world class bridge players, and lovers of the card game bridge from all over the world.
- Update frequency
- every 18 days
- Average duration
- 73 minutes
- Episodes
- 103
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Ep. 82 Richard Zeckhauser: Making Better Decisions in the Card Game Bridge
Today on The Setting Trick, we’re thrilled to welcome Richard Zeckhauser, a towering figure whose expertise spans both economics and competitive bridge. A professor at Harvard Kennedy School, Richard…
Episode 81: Owen Lien Does It All In Bridge
John McAllister chats with 35-year-old Owen Lien of Oak Park MI about Junior Bridge, directing on BBO, playing professionally and reaching highs and lows in national events. Owen has won two limited …
Ep 80 Matthew Granovetter: Bridge Mystic
Matthew Granovetter is a six-time NABC champion. He also won a world championship, the Mixed Pairs, in 2006. He is a popular author and teacher, along with his wife, Pamela. They are best known for…
Episode 79: Boss Ladies of Bridge – Ladawna Parham and Bronia Jenkins
Just before the Toronto NABC, John sat down with Ladawna Parham, executive director of the ACBL Educational Foundation, and Bronia Jenkins, executive director of the ACBL. Jenkins, “one year in,” sti…
Ep. 78 - Gavin Wolpert is committed to making you the best bridge player you can be!
John welcomes back his first-ever guest, Gavin Wolpert, a seven-time NABC winner, including the 2021 Soloway Knockout and the 2005 Blue Ribbon Pairs with his wife, Jenny, and a two-time bronze medal …
Ep. 77 - You Want Aaron “Silversetin” to Be Your Bridge Mentor
Today, my guest is in-demand tournament player, winner of one of Bridge’s crown jewels, the 2022 Vanderbilt, club owner, multiple club owner, and Junior Bridge mentor extraordinaire, Aaron Silverstei…
Ep. 76: Simon de Wijs – Bridge's Vault Keeps all Secrets
My guest is Simon de Wijs from the Netherlands. Simon has a great bridge resume. He has won the Bermuda Bowl, the Olympiad, the mixed World Championship, and multiple European championships. He is a …
Ep. 75 - Brian Platnick - Can Tell You if You're a World Class Bridge Player
Today my guest is Brian Platnick. He’s a world champion (1991 World Junior Teams and 2010 Rosenblum Cup) with six NABC+ titles, including two Spingold wins (2010, 2017) and a victory in the Blue Ribb…
Ep 74: Event Review with Sophia Baldysz
Today, we're debuting a new format called Event Review, where my partner and I get together and discuss some of the most amusing incidents and some of the best and worst plays from a recent event. …
Ep 73 Rise and Fly! Lamont Jones and The Gist of Bid Whist
Episode 73: Rise and Fly! Lamont Jones and The Gist of Bid Whist
Normally, this is a Bridge podcast, but today my guest is Bid Whist evangelist Lamont Jones. Lamont recently published the book call…
Ep 72: John Got Hired!
John shares his experience of being hired to play bridge professionally for the first time. He talks about meeting and playing with a new partner and the challenges they faced. He also discusses the …
Ep 71 Morten Bilde: Introducing the Card Game Bridge to Young People
Today’s guest is Denmark's Morten Bilde. In addition to being a world-class bridge player with a win and a second in the U.S. Vanderbilt, Morten left his day job in 2015 to focus on getting bridge in…
Ep 70 Matthew Brown: High Compatibility in the Card Game Bridge
My guest today is Matthew Brown. Matt has been my partner for the last two North American Bridge Championships and for the upcoming March NABC in Louisville.
Matt’s partnership with Michael Whibley o…
69 John Solo - This is the Song About Bridge
Ever wonder about the theme music that accompanies The Setting Trick and Double Dummy? Listen to this bonus episode, the first of John telling stories about the genesis of his bridge media.
68 Game On – The Card Game Bridge Needs More People Like Steve Raine
The Setting Trick Episode 68 Game On – The Card Game Bridge Needs More People Like Steve Raine John McAllister talks with Steve Raine, a bridge player, vlogger and gaming café owner who lives in Nott…
67 Bonnie Gellas - The Beginners Bridge Teacher
The North American Bridge Championships are truly an experience that brings people together. Walt Shafer, who runs an eponymous, invitation-only game online, hosted a party for the participants at th…
66 Alex Kolesnik: Bridge Dad +
Alex Kolesnik: Bridge Dad +
Move over, Soccer Moms, there’s a new game in town. Alex Kolesnik and his wife, Sharon Beynon, are California-based professors who play bridge. Somehow, they got both of t…
65 Nathan Gong - A Junior Ambassador for New Bridge Players
The Setting Trick
Episode 65: Nathan Gong – A Junior Ambassador for New Bridge Players
Seattle-area teenager Nathan Gong has distinguished himself as an excellent bridge player at regionals, NABCs, a…
64 Amber Lin - Bridge's Wonder Woman
Amber Lin has already achieved a lifetime of success at age 26. A national champion and two-time world champion medalist (including gold in Morocco just a few weeks ago), Amber has found the time to …