Hi, my name is John McAllister. I have spent the past six years playing bridge all around the world. My goal is to win a world championship. Doing so requires getting into the minds of the world’s best players.
I can not think of a better, more fun way to do so, than to interview great bridge players and share their insights in podcast format.
EPISODE 20: KIM FRAZER
Kim Frazer is an Olympian, three time Commonwealth Games gold medalist in rifle shooting and author of Gaining the Mental Edge at Bridge. Seeking a hobby in retirement, Kim took up bridge in 2005 and in 2018 made the Australian women’s team in her first attempt.
In this episode Kim shares how the mental techniques that brought her such success in shooting are just as applicable in bridge. Kim discusses the path she took in writing her book and explains with simple practices how to improve one’s mental bridge game. Kim is rigorous about improving hers.
When she encounters a new card combination, she makes sure to look it up in the ACBL Encyclopedia. Her diligence is contagious. Playing in a BBO speedball a few days after we spoke, I encountered AQ762 opposite J954 and wondered, hmm, I wonder if there is more to this combination than I know. (Encyclopedia still in storage)
I played two slams in the same speedball which required careful play and handling. I noticed myself thinking I don’t know how to play slams well. Thanks to having talked to Kim, I was able to acknowledge this negative self concept and notice how it didn’t serve me. I went on to make both contracts. Thanks Kim!
I echo what Ron Klinger shared in the introduction, “I would just like to bar all of my regular opponents from reading this book.”
Search “The Setting Trick” on your preferred listening platform or click on one of the links below.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kim-frazer/id1345780835?i=1000482244924
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/john-mcallister-221670174/kim-frazer
Or read the transcript