Gary Conrad

Expert Overview

Based in a picturesque village in Hertfordshire, Gary enjoys the peaceful views of open fields from his garden when he's not travelling or hosting bridge events. For many years, he owned a company that manufactured children’s toys, which frequently took him to Hong Kong and China.

Gary first learned to play bridge at university when he was just 19 and has now been playing for over 40 years. He is a Senior EBU Panel Director, Chief Tournament Director for Hertfordshire, and a dedicated trainer for EBED, having helped more than 200 players gain the skills to direct bridge in their own clubs. He’s hosted many bridge holidays over the years and always looks forward to meeting new players and catching up with familiar faces.

When he’s not at the table, Gary enjoys walking, eating, and building Lego models. He’s travelled to over 100 countries (with the USA as a firm favourite), and while he’s a seasoned globetrotter, he still counts the Atlantis Palm in Dubai as his favourite hotel.

Top Bridge Tip from Gary: Learn to be good at defence! You spend more time defending in a game of bridge than anything else, so it really pays to be good at it. And don’t lose focus when you are not getting the cards – in duplicate bridge, every trick counts!