Samantha Punch is Professor of Sociology at the University of Stirling, UK. She leads the research project - Bridge: A MindSport for All (BAMSA). In the study Bridging Minds Sam interviewed 60 world class and top players from the USA and Europe about the non-technical aspects of the game.
Based on this research, her book Bridge at the Top: Behind the Screens includes interviews with players such as Meckstroth, Rodwell, Hamman, Rosenberg, Grue, Zia, and Levin. The more recent book, The Art of Becoming a Top Bridge Player, covers various topics from the interviews, such as mistakes, emotions, partnership dynamics, pressure, and how to ‘level up.’
Sam won the Lazard Sportsmanship Award for being part of Team Scotland who kick-started a boycott at the European Qualifiers event in 2021. She has played for Scotland every year since 2008, either on the women’s, mixed, and/or open team.
I’ve included the video here, or you can watch it on YouTube. You can also listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Some of the highlights:
Sam recommends Daniel Kahneman’s book Thinking Fast and Slow (6:30)
Physical preparations (12:15)
The emotions associated with mistakes (17:40)
The physicality of confidence (22:30)
The “hygiene” of consistency (23:40)
We don’t even all agree on what is a “mistake” (30:00)
“Slow” vs “Fast” bridge reading (32:00)
Teaching bridge to kids (36:00)
Share this post