16. Geoff Hampson - Best in the World

When I invited world champion Geoff Hampson to be a guest on The Setting Trick, he shot back, "What's the Setting Trick?" Crushed, I sent him a link to our website along with question marks and exclamation points. To which he responded, "I just bust chops, I'm down."    It's a pleasure to welcome one of the finest bridge players in the world with a sense of humor to match. Highlights from Episode:   2:55- Geoff talks about how he is sick   12:10- Geoff's favorite bridge memory   14:00- Geoff talks about Fantunes and how he suspected they were cheating   23:20- The impact of the Covid-19 virus   26:50- A high level declarer play young Geoff made that changed John Gowdy's opinions about him   31:35- Geoff's college experience (or lack thereof)   33:05- Geoff's experience with playing money bridge   37:20- Funny comment Geoff made when he was in the Well   39:20- How Geoff first started playing bridge   41:20- Funny story back when Geoff was still a beginner   42:35- Geoff's initial motivation to get good at bridge   45:10- Geoff's idea of using this time of quarantine to help spread the game of bridge   48:20- John and Geoff discuss golf   55:15- The biggest advice Geoff has for players is to COUNT   1:01:50- Geoff plays Barbu. Here is the site where we play Barbu and the Barbu ladder, currently led by Episode (?) guest Zach Grossack 3/25   1:08:35- Geoff likes to read the Game of Thrones books   1:10:30- Geoff says he isn't even the best player in his partnership   1:11:45- Is Geoff better than Kalita?   If you are interested in joining our online barbu group please apply to join our Facebook Group so that Shireen Mohandes may send you the particular set of rules by which we play.