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Starting off as a pro

#1 User is offline   puidedac 

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Posted 2005-July-31, 04:20

If today you would decide to start your pro life which country would you choose?
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#2 User is offline   Fluffy 

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Posted 2005-July-31, 13:11

Diego Brenner recently moved to Barcelona, and I think he has been very right, there are loads of players there, but few, if any, top players. I think he is beeing happy latelly :).
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#3 User is offline   keylime 

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  Posted 2005-July-31, 13:33

Canada. This country has treated me incredibly well, and I would be honored to represent her aboard for that reason alone.
"Champions aren't made in gyms, champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill. " - M. Ali
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#4 User is offline   han 

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Posted 2005-July-31, 22:28

I assumed that the question referred to making money out of bridge, not representing your country in international bridge. Surely you can play for your country without going pro, even though it happens less and less.

I would think that the USA offers the best chances for making bridge money. Isn't that why the top Italians and Poles play in the big North-American tournaments?
Please note: I am interested in boring, bog standard, 2/1.

- hrothgar
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#5 User is offline   pclayton 

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Posted 2005-August-01, 08:51

I would start off in the Nation of Florida. 2nd choice is the principality of Palm Springs.

:P
"Phil" on BBO
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#6 User is offline   helene_t 

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Posted 2005-August-01, 23:16

My boss just decided to send me to Germany. Not sure if I'm supposed to play bridge, though.
The world would be such a happy place, if only everyone played Acol :) --- TramTicket
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#7 User is offline   chicken 

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Posted 2005-August-05, 07:21

[helene_t Posted on Aug 2 2005, 12:16 AM My boss just decided to send me to Germany. Not sure if I'm supposed to play bridge, though.]


whereto in germany? i can give u some adresses if u want t o play.
Kom kit´cha vangar´th, kin patakh´ch vananch, pargh?

If it´s not important to win, tell me, why do they keep records?

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#8 User is offline   fred 

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Posted 2005-August-05, 08:56

pclayton, on Aug 1 2005, 02:51 PM, said:

I would start off in the Nation of Florida. 2nd choice is the principality of Palm Springs.

:P

This is sound advice.

I suspect that there are more opportunties for bridge pros in America right now than there are in all other countries combined. Selecting a part of America where there are a lot of wealthy retired people (ie a lot of potential paying students) makes good sense. Dozens of successful professional players have moved to Florida during the past 15 years or so.

It is true that you will get more competition from other pros in these areas, but at this point in time the bridge pro business is a "sellers' market".

Don't worry too much about having to compete for business against the Meckstroths of the world. As long as you are a reasonable player who has good manners and teaches well, you will be able to find work in clubs and minor tournaments. Getting hired to play as a professional in major tournaments is more difficult. That's where the "real money" is, but it is certainly posssible to make a reasonable living as a pro in parts of America these days without ever going to a major tournament.

One of the advantages of working in a market where there are a lot of great players is that this will make it easier for you to get to know these players. If you have talent and an appropriate personality you will thereby have the opportunity to impress the people who have the ability to help get you on pro teams in the big events.

Your first year or so rates to be difficult. Be prepared for that.

Good luck to you in your new career!

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com
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#9 User is offline   pigpenz 

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Posted 2005-August-05, 19:08

ah but more respect for those who do it greatly for the fun not the money and are highyl successful at it.
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