Bertie Morgan (L) with Fletcher Davey
I think I started playing / learning bridge at 15. My parents would have family friends around for bridge nights and they would have dinner and play bridge. I always loved board games, card games any type of game. So I walked in and asked what the game was and how it worked. From there I started going to Phil Gue’s supervised sessions and regular SA youth bridge sessions and grew from there.
What do (did) you do professionally?
I am currently a student at Adelaide University, studying a Bachelor of Business. I expect to graduate this year.
Who is your partner and for how long? Longest Partnership?
My partner is Paddy Taylor, we have not been playing together long but we still managed to work together well to win the qualifying. We agreed to play together in roughly June of 2025 and had some sporadic practices leading up to youth week.
If you had a choice who would you like to play with? Australia and Internationally – living or dead.
I would want to play with, Tim Seres.
In your playing career, what is the bridge success that has the most meaning for you?
I think winning the Adelaide ANC in 2022 in the youth was a great moment. It was in my home town so it was really nice to bring it home and be surrounded by people I like. It was really hard fought as all bridge wins are. But it was just nice for when you put a lot of effort and work into something and you get the chocolates in the end.
And your worst moment in bridge?
There’s many a bid I have made or hands that I have played that I could consider my worst moment. It was the last day of qualifying at worlds in 2023. We were playing the Netherlands and we had good chances to qualify as we were still competitive. I bid this hand terribly. Totally overestimated my hand. I went for 1100. If I had asked some questions about the auction I would’ve avoided bidding again. Everything I did was avoidable. Whereas if I had just stayed quiet we would’ve gotten imps in and not lost 14. It still haunts me to this day.
What do you do between sessions to put you in the best frame of mind for the following sessions?
I just try to relax, chill out and forget the previous set so I can be present in the moment as best I can so I try to do whatever will help me do that. Sometimes it’ll be having lunch with my teammates or partner. Or it’ll be me relaxing somewhere quiet.
Do you have a favourite and least favourite convention?
Stayman is my favourite convention because it is simple and effective at getting you to your best spot.
Would you prefer to have more system or less?
I typically prefer less system. It’s not really about less system but more about having strong / clear agreements in most positions. Typically, I prefer to have simple agreements in those spots.
What do you to do to improve your game?
I do things like bridge master and read books occasionally. I ask questions to good players about what actions they would’ve taken if I’m unsure about what I did. I try to play as many high quality competitions as possible.
Favourite bridge book
I haven’t read as many bridge books as I should have. Something I’m trying to remedy in 2026. But my favourite bridge book is Master of Bridge Psychology: Inside the Remarkable Mind of Peter Fredin by Jeppe Juhl.
What interests or hobbies do you have besides bridge?
I like to read, play board games and video games with friends.
What is the number one thing that bridge has done for you as a person and for your life?
Bridge has improved my life dramatically. It has given me casual work during my studies. It has allowed me to travel in ways I could never have imagined, which has expanded my view of the world.
Bridge results and awards
Winning in bridge is hard!
2020 Online youth teams – 1st
2022 ANC Adelaide Youth – 1st
2022 ANOT Under Grand Pairs – 1st
2026 Aus Youth Teams Championship – 1st
2026 Aus Junior Team Selection – 1st
State Representation
2019 ANC Melbourne – 2nd
2020 Online youth teams – 1st
2021 ANC Online
2022 ANC Adelaide – 1st
2023 ANC Perth – 2nd
National / International Representation
2021 Trinational Tournament (online)
2022 7th World Youth Bridge Transitional Championships (U21s) in Italy
2023 18th World Youth Bridge Championships (U21s) in Netherlands
2024 8th World Youth Transnational Tournament
2025 19th World Youth Teams Championship U26 in Italy
