[Winstonm]

Along the same lines as Mike's book/bols post: Who do you think was: 1) the greatest female player ever and 2) the greatest male player ever.

Defend your choices or you are stuck with me as your partner for all eternity against Hamman/Soloway.

Winston

[mike777]

Winstonm, on Aug 6 2005, 08:35 PM, said:

Along the same lines as Mike's book/bols post: Who do you think was: 1)  the greatest female player ever and 2) the greatest male player ever.

Defend your choices or you are stuck with me as your partner for all eternity against Hamman/Soloway.

Winston

Smith, Helen Martin (Mrs. Stanley, formerly Mrs. Al Sobel and Mrs. Jack White)

Belladonna, Giorgio

My defense is they are both fun loving, who enjoyed bridge and life.

[the hog]

Benito Garozzo. When one has a look at hands he played, and at his bidding theories, there is no doubt that he ranks highest.

Sabine Auken. Best female player around today, which probably means of all time, by the proverbial country mile.

[epeeist]

Winstonm, on Aug 6 2005, 08:35 PM, said:

Along the same lines as Mike's book/bols post: Who do you think was: 1)  the greatest female player ever and 2) the greatest male player ever.

Defend your choices or you are stuck with me as your partner for all eternity against Hamman/Soloway.

Winston

For (1), a couple of potential ones (while I am not exactly qualified to judge skill at play, I couldn't resist posting)

- Dorothy Hayden Truscott, given her performance, she and Helen Sobel (as she was, later Smith mike777 notes) are only NA Bermuda Bowl female entrants, DT was #1 woman for years, etc.; or

- Myrtle Bennett (for reason see e.g. http://www.snopes.com/luck/bennett.htm )

For (2) I think:

- Harold Vanderbilt (for inventing contract bridge from auction bridge alone, not to mention his skill) would be "greatest".

[Elianna]

epeeist, on Aug 6 2005, 08:31 PM, said:

- Dorothy Hayden Truscott, given her performance, she and Helen Sobel (as she was, later Smith mike777 notes) are only NA Bermuda Bowl female entrants, DT was #1 woman for years, etc.;

Wasn't Rose Meltzer in the Bermuda Bowl recently?

[Winstonm]

I'd vote for Benito Garozzo. In his prime the man was a bridge machine and he is still an incredibly formidable opponent. His record speaks for itself.

As for women, I'd have to vote for Rixi Markus. Not only was she saddled with an albatross of a bidding system, but she played during an era when information about bridge was not easily had and therefore had to rely on seat of the pants school of learning, from which she graduated with a Ph.D.

Winston

[CarlRitner]

I will second (or third) the vote for Dorothy Hayden Truscott, not for flashes of brilliancy but for consistent high-level play and ethical purity. But, this is a contest with many close behind her.

It's also extremely difficult to pick any one male as the "greatest", but I believe that Charles Goren is undeservedly looked upon by some as simply a commercial businessman that picked bridge. I won't select him as the most cunning or eclectic, but he did so much to promote the game in the 1940's and 1950's, when bridge in the United States became a household word and pasttime.

If there were no Goren, there would only be 3000 bridge books, instead of 5000

Cheers,

Carl
ACBL Library Books

[Fluffy]

I though the most important woman was Ely Culbertson, but thenI probablydon't read enough.

I really have no clue if Belladona or Garozzo was better, but surelly one of them was the best.

[epeeist]

Fluffy, on Aug 7 2005, 10:12 PM, said:

I though the most important woman was Ely Culbertson, but thenI probablydon't read enough.

I really have no clue if Belladona or Garozzo was better, but surelly one of them was the best.

I'm afraid I don't get the joke. Ely Culbertson was male. His wife (until he divorced her, he later remarried) was Josephine Culbertson. Who from what I've read was a very good player herself.

[han]

Whether that's true or not, I'll support Fluffy and also nominate Ely Culbertson as the best female bridge player of all times.

[mike777]

Hannie, on Aug 7 2005, 11:20 PM, said:

Whether that's true or not, I'll support Fluffy and also nominate Ely Culbertson as the best female bridge player of all times.

Well we are making news now.

Bridge World magazine rolling over in grave.

We all knew he/she was a great showman/woman for bridge.
Now 50 years after death (1955) still the biggest news maker in bridge with this sex revelation!

I hope you advanced/expert players are joking about your nonknowledge of bridge.

[Gerben42]

Quote

are only NA Bermuda Bowl female entrants,

Why do they have to originate from North America?

My vote goes to:

Sabine Auken for being the #1 woman player for decades. Won everything there is to win in Ladies and Mixed, and also does well in "open" bridge (Cap Gemini, NABCs, etc.). When did Germany play the Bermuda Bowl, if at any time?

As for male players: It has to be someone from Italy but I think it is hard to compare the "old" and "new" Blue Team.

[han]

mike777, on Aug 8 2005, 01:19 AM, said:

I hope you advanced/expert players are joking about your nonknowledge of bridge.

Use your table feel Mike! (hard with these screens)

[Winstonm]

Quote

Why do they have to originate from North America?

Rixi Markus? - Brittain is now part of North America? Another news flash!

[mike777]

Gerben42, on Aug 8 2005, 07:39 AM, said:

Quote

are only NA Bermuda Bowl female entrants,

Why do they have to originate from North America?

My vote goes to:

Sabine Auken for being the #1 woman player for decades. Won everything there is to win in Ladies and Mixed, and also does well in "open" bridge (Cap Gemini, NABCs, etc.). When did Germany play the Bermuda Bowl, if at any time?

As for male players: It has to be someone from Italy but I think it is hard to compare the "old" and "new" Blue Team.

http://www.worldbrid...women/stars.asp

[Walddk]

The discussion is funny, but pretty futile, because bridge is a partnership game. Let Benito Garozzo play with Harvey Smith from Fletton, England, and Sabine Auken with Elinor Jones from Dayton, Pennsylvania.

How will they fare? Just as well as Fred Gitelman with Heike Schmidt from Biberach in Germany, and Debbie Rosenberg with Francesco Aramba from Tomelloso, Spain.

Roland

P.S. My sincere apologies if Harvey Smith, Elinor Jones, Heike Schmidt and Francesco Aramba exist in those areas. No offence intended.

[Gerben42]

Quote

are only NA Bermuda Bowl female entrants

So if NA doesn't stand for North America, what does it stand for?