Episode 9: Michael Rosenberg
Michael Rosenberg, for whom the game of bridge came “amazingly easily,” describes learning bridge as a sixteen year old as “a relief”, in part because he was stagnating in chess. Michael started playing chess at the age of nine and as a thirteen year old had beaten the Scottish chess champion.
Michael has won four world championships including the 2017 Bermuda Bowl, 1994 Rosenblum Cup, and the 1998 World Par Contest and was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2015. Episode 15 guest and fellow world champion Steve Weinstein, “if Michael Rosenberg gives you a bridge problem, you can't just answer it. You have to really think about it.”
Michael was asked to be a mentor for the United States Bridge Federation Junior Program in 2013. To the benefit of all American junior bridge players, he eventually ended up taking over the training program and has dedicated himself to running it ever since.
Highlights from the Episode:
2:35- How Michael Rosenberg learned bridge
3:20- Michael’s relationship with chess and his son, Kevin
7:30- Michael’s perspective on the importance of knowing suit combinations
9:20- Michael’s analysis on a hand
13:20- How Michael became involved in the USBF Junior training program
17:00- Michael’s favorite quote
19:20- How the junior training program functions
23:40- Michael’s current situation after winning two separate events in the USBF trials
26:55- What Michael thinks of his former bridge partner, Chris Willenken
29:05- Michael’s analysis on a hand
35:15- Michael’s job prior to becoming a full time professional bridge player
38:08- One of Michael’s highlights in chess was beating English player Peter Markland
39:45- Two things that Michael doesn’t understand why they always work
46:25- Comparison of chess to bridge
49:00- Michael’s thoughts on how to teach bridge
58:15- Michael’s philosophy on what to do when something goes wrong at the bridge table
1:02:35- Knock out the ace!
Listen to the episode at:
https://soundcloud.com/john-mcallister-221670174/a-conversation-with-michael-1