13. Kåre Gjaldbæk - Talks Danish Coffees

12/27/19 • 82 min

The Setting Trick: Conversations with World Class Bridge Players

Originating from Denmark, Kare Gjaldbaek is our next guest. Kare is currently pursuing a PhD in mathematics. This coupled with the fact that he has new children to take care of means he is forced to take a hiatus from bridge. But once life calms down for him, he plans on “returning to the bridge scene with a vengeance.”

Similarly to our previous guest, Bart Bramley, Kare has interesting stories to share. Unlike Bramley though, Kare has more .... wild stories to tell. One particular narrative involves a combination of alcohol and late-adolescence hormones, leading to a lack of clothing in adverse locations. Reflected by a feisty and jolly personality, Kare effectively demonstrates the thrills and vicissitudes of junior bridge.

Highlights from Episode:

3:50- What Kare misses about playing bridge

6:30- Difficulties that prevent Kare from playing in tournaments

8:00- Kare’s best accomplishments in grand events

9:20- Kare’s story about swimming naked in public

10:30- Another story of dubious-teenage-actions

17:30- A hilarious story about teaching bridge

26:40- Kare’s best bridge advice

35:40- Kare’s reason for not asking about his teammates’ results

49:00- Kare’s thoughts on leaving his math career to pursue professional bridge

53:10- A bridge lesson that Kare learned from Bart Bramley

1:13:40- How bridge should be taught

Highlights from Episode:

3:50- What Kare misses about playing bridge

6:30- Difficulties that prevent Kare from playing in tournaments

8:00- Kare’s best accomplishments in grand events

9:20- Kare’s story about swimming naked in public

10:30- Another story of dubious-teenage-actions

17:30- A hilarious story about teaching bridge

26:40- Kare’s best bridge advice

35:40- Kare’s reason for not asking about his teammates’ results

49:00- Kare’s thoughts on leaving his math career to pursue professional bridge

53:10- A bridge lesson that Kare learned from Bart Bramley

1:13:40- How bridge should be taught

Previous Episode

12. Bart Bramley - Master Storyteller

Being on our longest interview yet, Bart Bramley, a world-class bridge champion, delivered throughout the entirety of the podcast. This episode was not a typical interview. Indeed, it was Bart who steered the conversation, captaining the exploration of his fruitful life. As a master storyteller, Bart recounted innumerable adventures and provided an incredulous level of detail in each of his stories.

At the age of 71, Bramley has lived life. He may be old in terms of the myriad memories he can reminisce about, but he still has the sharp humor of a young man. Bart invites you, listeners, to experience vicariously his life journey and encounters with some of the world’s greatest and most renowned players.

Highlights from Episode:

5:30- Bart’s relatively low weight and his experiences with it

12:50- John Mcallister’s weight and height

17:00- Bart’s recollection of tournaments that he played in

21:10- Stories about Lou Bluhm

37:00- Stories about Bob Hamman

40:10- Bart’s outside-of-bridge- career path

48:40- Bart’s experience partnering with Bob Hamman

57:40- Bart’s explanation for why Bob Hamman is a great bridge player

58:50- The importance of putting a bad board behind you

1:01:15- Bart’s love for baseball

1:07:00- A funny space work project

1:27:40- A story about Harold Lilie

1:36:30- Stories about Sidney Lazard and the famous 6D hand

1:45:30- The famous Geir Helgemo hand

1:53:40- Bart’s favorite event

Next Episode

14. Jeff Meckstroth - All-time Great

Jeff Meckstroth needs no introduction. His name is synonymous with winning. When I first laid eyes on him, some eight years ago, at the Williamsburg Regional, I thought, "Wow, there's Jeff Meckstroth!"

Now, amazingly, here he is, full of good humor, stories and even some encouragement for my own game on The Setting Trick podcast.

In our wide ranging conversation, Jeff shares about meeting Eric Rodwell, how he knew Rod was the partner for him, getting started professionally and getting fired by both George Rosenkrantz and Nick Nickell!

One of my favorite parts of this interview came from a throwaway question about Jeff's partner for the upcoming Platinum Pairs. The only NABC event Jeff doesn't play with Rod. Jeff has partners lined up seven years out!

Meck is open about making mistakes, the importance of putting them behind you, underachieving on the Nickell team of late and his appreciation for those who have helped pave the way for his incredible success at the highest level.

Jeff recently befriended Jeopardy champion James Holzhauer. If you only have time for one story, starting at the 3:22 mark, check out how Jeff too quickly pulled a false card, in a friendly match against James and Josh Donn at the recent San Francisco NABC.

Other highlights from the episode include:

6:30- Jeff’s advice to James and all bridge players

7:20- How Jeff met Eric Rodwell

10:40- A multi-system that Jeff used to play with Rodwell until it was banned

12:30- How Jeff learned bridge

13:40- Jeff’s experience with winning the King of Bridge award

18:25- The 1979 Reisinger

24:30- Jeff’s favorite bridge victory

28:00- How Jeff views his titles when he sits down to play

30:30- What Jeff cherishes about bridge

34:00- The aftermath of Jeff’s departure from team Nickell

38:20- How Rodwell loves to tinker with their system