Jump to content

Introductions and the Like


skrshawk

Recommended Posts

I used to get into bridge arguments on the forums all the time, and maybe this somehow made my game better, but I wouldn't bet on it. You see, before BBF I used to be able to follow suit...

I have enjoyed and learned from your many, many thoughtful posts on this forum. Thank you. Congratulations on the new job. Hope you enjoy the change of scene and find time after settling in to post occasionally.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 2 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Hi everyone. My name is Kane Tan, though my fellow Singaporeans will know me by my Chinese name Wen Yuan, or my BBO name Xiaolongnu. I am 25 this year. I started bridge 7 years ago but only started seriously playing 4 years ago, that is, during my university days (: I just graduated and the future is both bright and uncertain for me. I like cats very much, almost as much as I like bridge.

 

Singapore is a country with a good balance of greenery and economy. The bridge field in Singapore (from what I observe) is made of more guys than ladies, among the younger players, about 50-50 among the middle aged and a little more guys by percentage among the senior players.

 

I have very little overseas bridge experience except online play, and would like to have some exposure to the outside world some day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

I just joined BBO. Howdy, everyone!

 

I've been playing bridge since I was 15, mostly when I'm on the road (as my wife and kids don't play). I'm experienced, but rusty. My preference runs toward Kaplan-Sheinwold.

 

When I'm not playing bridge I consult in project risk management, teach finance and mathematics, write software to analyze investment portfolios, train and ride Arabian horses, and am a professional magician.

 

In my career I've also written software to run numerical control systems (milling machines, lathes, punch presses, coordinate measuring machines, and so on), programmed the cameras that watch the freeways in Orange County, CA, written software for navigation using GPS and deep-ocean transponders, designed warheads, analyzed mortgage-backed securities, and taught courses in project risk management, cost management, quality management, cash flow analysis, problem solving and decision making, and portfolio management, as well as review courses for the Chartered Financial Analyst exams.

 

In short, therefore, I'm somewhat scatterbrained.

 

I'd wanted my username to be "S2000magician", but it was too long. Sigh.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Hi folks!

 

My wife and I just started learning bridge. The original idea was to learn just enough so we can play socially with a group of friends. Best laid plans and all, but we both are finding it so enjoyable and fascinating that we're quickly developing a happy and benign addiction. One evening a week is now cleared for bridge!

 

We are lucky enough to have a local club where we can play and take lessons. After six weeks of introductory lessons, I feel like I'm just starting to grasp the basics of bidding and play of the hand. We played our first boards of "gentle" bridge last week and had a blast, even while tanking spectacularly. The other players were very gracious.

 

BBO seems like a great resource and a friendly community. I'm impressed with the quality of the posts I've seen so far and I look forward to playing, kibitzing and eventually contributing to the discussions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Hi, I've been stalking these forums for years, and just saw this thread. My name is Chris Gibson, I am 32 years old & living in the suburbs of Portland, OR. My bridge life started when I was 8, around a kitchen table in Ohio, and I had never heard of the ACBL or bridge tournaments until a lady making a deposit at the bank I worked at when I moved to Portland explained that she owned a bridge club. That was 9 years ago, and I've been a regular ever since - now I'm gradually breaking into the ranks of players who are expected to represent the district in open events, though I still qualify for flight B and will for a few more years in all likelihood.

 

Outside of bridge I play in pool leagues, & love to travel & watch sports (american football & basketball are my favorites). I was an exchange student to Japan while in high school, and have been to most of the 50 states, and traveled a bit through Europe also. I am single, have never been married, was raised a Christian Scientist but no longer adhere to prayer as my preferred form of health care, and it would take a lot for me to move outside of the Portland area because I love it here. Other random facts: I have a BS in physics with no intention of ever using it; I procrastinate freely; My current bridge goal is to finish in the top 10 of a nationally rated event, with top 3 and winning being the goals after that - and I have every intention of meeting those goals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since this thread seems to be a good place for academic bragging, I'd like to note that I got a PhD position in the Netherlands and I'll start in September :)

Congrats.

 

To add another, having spent my time at university first time round basically playing bridge, chess and D&D, and not doing enough chemistry, I've just graduated in maths/statistics having studied at home with the open university. Only 25 years late.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I met Chris and Atul in Portland when I visited for the regional. Both really great guys, great bridge minds, tough competitors, and a true pleasure to have met.

 

It makes me a little sad that the ACBL junior program and youngsters like Chris and Meg Massie can't get together before the whole age thing sets in. Now that I'm effectively too old to play bridge, I can sort of speak about how silly the junior program is in some regards. Maybe Chris can elaborate further, but I assume, given his history of traveling around the country and world, had he been offered sponsored trips to bridge tournaments in his late teens he'd be a great addition to those teams. So why didn't that happen?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for the kind words Justin & Jeremy. I've enjoyed my encounters against you as well, even though I invariably come away with the worst of it.

 

As far as whether I'd be good enough to play as a teen in junior competitions - certainly not right away. I didn't learn basic things like defensive carding or any conventional bidding until I started playing duplicate. I mean, I didn't even play weak 2 bids or stayman - it would have been impossible to find a partner I could play with with the exception of maybe my younger brother, who was raised in the same bastardized early Goren bidding system (and who still doesn't play duplicate, though he loves playing home games). Honestly, though, if I had been exposed to junior bridge in my teens I think I could have learned bidding and carding quickly enough to be competitive within a few years - that's basically what has happened now.

 

As far as why I didn't know about junior bridge, it is because I didn't know about organized bridge at all, which is a shame because I know at least a couple of the people my parents invited over for bridge parties over the years actually did play some ACBL duplicate, so I could have easily been introduced to the organization if those members were motivated. Although I might not have graduated college if I had a full-blown bridge addiction, so perhaps its for the best. Anyway, aside from advertising in schools or something, I'm not sure the ACBL could have done much that would have succeeded in finding me & introducing me to the junior bridge program.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...