How did you get started in bridge? At what age? Who from?
I learnt on a family holiday from my parents when I was 14
What do (did) you do professionally?
I teach, play, and make YouTube videos about bridge. I did however also do a Materials Engineering degree.
Who is your partner and for how long? Longest partnership?
I currently don’t have a serious partnership. I used to play with Justin Mill for 10+ years
If you had a choice who would you like to play with? Australia and Internationally- living or dead?
Currently I love playing with anyone who has lots of fun and just likes to enjoy the game. I most recently played with Mike Ware in the Gold Coast Congress. He is a larger than life character and a blast to play with.
In your playing career, what is the bridge success that has the most meaning for you?
Making the Australian Open team and winning silver medals in the World Juniors. Both of those surpassed my wildest expectations when I first took up the game and at any point of my journey.
And your worst moment in bridge?
Coming 2nd in a VCC. I have come 2nd three times, twice was fantastic once was a disaster. The first time I came 2nd we were coming nowhere at half time and finished with close to four maximum results to jump up to 2nd. The 2nd time with 2 matches to go we were 22VP’s clear of 2nd and managed to get completely maxed to get jumped even with a good win in the final round. The third time I only played the first couple of matches and then had to leave to captain the Australian mixed team and followed my teams results back home to get up to 2nd.
What do you do between sessions to put you in the best frame of mind for the following session?
I like to drink water, go for a walk outside and get some fresh air and give myself a pep talk of what I want to be thinking when I start the next round.
Do you have a favourite and least favourite convention?
I like my conventions to be easy to remember in the heat of the moment and any convention with ambiguity I really dislike.
Would you prefer to have more system or less?
In my serious partnership I am quite happy to have lots of system. When starting a new partnership, I prefer to cut down on system to a minimalist level and then slowly add system in as the partnership grows.
What do you do to improve your game?
Whenever I play I like to review how I played and consider where I had decisions. With making Bridge YouTube videos, I’m lucky enough to have thousands of people critique my play to assist with that.
Favourite bridge book?
Killing Defence by Hugh Kelsey – it is a bit dated but the concepts are fantastic
What interests or hobbies do you have besides bridge?
Music, games
What is the number one thing that bridge has done for you as a person and for your life?
I met my wife (Laura Ginnan) at a youth Bridge tournament and we now have 2 amazing kids (Damon and Heath)
Bridge Results and Awards
I run the world’s largest Bridge YouTube channel
National Titles
Gold Coast Congress teams
Coffs Harbour
VCC
ANC Teams
ANC butler pairs
NZ Teams
NZ pairs
Territory Gold Teams
National Open Teams
State Representation
Victorian Open team
Victorian Junior team
Victorian Junior and Women’s Captain
International Representation
Australian Open Team 2017
Australian Mixed Team captain 2019
Australian U26
Australian U21
