Role: Founder, coach, Board Chair

Years playing bridge: 24 (learned when I was 10, played all through college, took a 45 year break, returned in 2012).
How I learned: Grandmother taught me and my friends every night after dinner on her farm in Virginia.

Favorite bid: NoTrump
Most interesting bridge player I ever met/heard of: Zia Mahmoud: I got to kibitz him IRL at a tournament

What I wish I knew the day I started playing bridge: That bridge is a sport, so I must be an
athlete.

My worst bridge action: taking a 45-year break.
My best bridge action: returning to bridge in 2012

Role: Coach

Years playing bridge: 50+ (including decades-long breaks)

How I learned: from my Mom & Dad

Favorite bid: 1NT

Most interesting bridge player I ever met/heard of: James Bond

Best advice I ever got: Bridge is a partnership game

The mistake I always make: In life, offering solutions to my wife when she just wants me to listen ... in bridge, failing to watch partner's discards.

My worst bridge habit: Beating myself up after every mistake.

Role: Coach, Zoom and Shark Bridge Manager

Years playing bridge: 3 years once a week, then a one year gap with casual play after (4 years)
How I learned: I read one of my uncle's basic bridge books one night. Then I started attending my high school bridge club that was held once a week.
Favorite bid: Transfers - You get to make your partner declare the hand, and you get to relax
Best advice I ever got: Bottom of something top of nothing
What I wish I knew the day I started playing bridge: You're always learning in Bridge
The mistake I always make: Finessing the wrong way
My worst bridge habit: Under-bidding

Role: Board Member

As a new Board Member, I’m bringing database management skills to the group and as a new Bridge player of merely 3 years, I’m bringing a lot of questions!

My Favorite Bridge Players: My thrill is enjoying Bridge as did Winston Churchill, Gandhi and my grandmother.

My advice: learn from mistakes.

My bad habits: counting shortness or length when I’m not supposed to and not pulling trump soon enough!

Role: Board Member, Toronto Meet-up Co-Chair, Coach

Years Playing: I’ve been playing 14 years, first social bridge and then club games, always receiving great guidance from my partners.

How I learned: I took lessons, read books and used online resources.

My advice: when making a plan, analyze from the anchor hand.

My bad habits: reckless creativity and fiddling with my cards!

Role: Coach

Years playing bridge: 50+ with 25 year gap

How I learned: from Mom and Dad, later on from the Chinese American Bridge Club mentors

Favorite Bid: 4NT Roman Keycard 1430 helps verify that slam is a possibility 

Most Interesting Player: Zach M. a guy who made played for big stakes, and yet was so gracious to compliment opponent’s play, defense or offense, and provide a teaching moment

What I wish I knew when I started: to play with more skilled players earlier

Worst Action: Being critical of my Partner.

Worst habit: Not drawing trump soon enough

Best Action: Joining Planet Bridge to help bring along more players to the game, and as a by product it’s help sharpen my game.

Role: Board Treasurer

Years playing bridge: About 3 years ago, I heard of an online Bridge program called Planet HOOL and once I met the people involved, I knew it was the perfect place for me to learn. I had no idea how many great friends I would make along the way (an added benefit!)

My advice: count those 40 points around the table.

My bad habit: forgetting to count those 40 points.

Role: Board member, coach
Years playing bridge: 20 years --lots of years of friendly kitchen bridge
How I learned: Beginning bridge classes at City College of SF Adult Learning program
Favorite bid: Stayman (when my partner bids it because I am relieved I might not have to play No Trump!)
Most interesting bridge player I ever met/heard of: I love that Martina Navratilova wrote the introduction to my first Audrey Grant Bridge book
What I wish I knew the day I started playing bridge: It is a partnership--add up your combined points and listen to all the bidding.
The mistake I always make: Never keeping track of all the suits in No Trump
My worst bridge habit: I rarely make a plan

Role: Board member, FUN-draising/Toronto Meet-Up Co-Chair and Edi-tricks of The Declarer

How I learned: Deborah’s Nana Dicken taught me the basics when I was 10 years old and I played continually throughout college until a career interfered for another 50 years. In my plan to repurpose myself (there’s no chapter on retirement in my book) Planet Bridge appeared at just the right time.

My advice: sometimes it’s points, shmoints (a la Marty Bergen).

My bad habit: Not counting poiots and forgetting my own advice!