Alexander Allfrey

Place of Birth: London.

Family: married to Martha (in June 1997). We have 4 boys.

Where do you live?
near Shaftesbury in Dorset. Moved from Hammersmith, London in 2005.

What do you do?
I'm a psychotherapist, although not full time. I also teach the odd bridge lesson and occasionally host a local bridge and dinner evening. Currently I find myself busy with a new village shop, which we have just opened here this week. It has included for me a crash course in accounting.

When did you first start playing bridge and why? My mother was always keen as was her mother. As teenagers, my brother (2 years older) and I used to get roped into playing bridge when our grandmother was staying (for me, happily roped in - less so for my brother, who never took it up further). Also as a family we regularly played various card games, especially whist. However it wasn't really until university (Edinburgh) before I became properly hooked on bridge. I found a regular partner and we used to head to the university bridge club and do battle against the likes of Andrew McIntosh. I particular remember early on being subjected to a Tosh double squeeze.

What are your national and international bridge achievements?
It was then partnering Andrew McIntosh in 2004 when I first won the Gold Cup. I have since won in 2007 and 2009 partnering Andrew Robson. I have won Crockfords (2005, 2008, 2012) and Spring Fours (2009). International - no accolades: knockout stages World Championships teams in Montreal 2002, Verona 2006 and Philadelphia 2010. Recent best result probably reaching pairs final in Philadelphia with Andrew Robson (although finished half way through the field - 30th).

Since this interview Alexander has won the Gold Cup three more times, and has won the Premier League six more times (now seven in total). He has also made his international debut, playing for England in the 2012 World Olympiad and 2013 Bermuda Bowl. He and Andrew Robson were joint winners of the 2015/16 Player of the Year Competition having won the Spring Foursomes and Harold Poster Cup in 2016. They were part of the team which retained the Spring Foursomes in 2017, and they also retained the Harold Poster Cup in 2017, going on to jointly retain the Player of the Year title.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at the bridge table?

Not sure. There have been various amusing moments. I was once partnered with a man in a Chicago game in a London club. He had claimed to play a little, although not for some time. Without much chat except to reassure him and saying something like "just follow what I do" (me thinking when defending), we sat down opposite two ladies and bid the first hand. My new friend became declarer (not sure how - I can't remember the bidding). The lady on my right led a card and I put down my dummy. My partner looked at it and promptly laid down his cards in a similar fashion! (and no - he wasn't claiming).

Last updated: November 2018

Major International Appearances

Bermuda Bowl: 2013
World Olympiad: 2012

European Champions’ Cup: 2005 2014 2015 2017 and 2019

Camrose Trophy Selections: 2009(EBU team) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 and 2019

Gold Cup Winner: 2004 2007 2009 2012 2013 and 2014

Crockfords winner: 2005 2008 and 2012

Premier League Winner: 2009 2011 2013 2014 2016 2017 and 2018

Spring Foursomes Winner: 2009 2016 2017 2018 and 2023

Summer Meeting Pairs, Harold Poster Cup Winner: 2016 and 2017

Brighton Four Stars Teams Winner: 2010 and 2014

Player of the Year Championship: 2014/15 - 2nd=; 2015/16 - 1st=; 2016/17 - 1st=; 2017/18 - 2nd=; 2018/19 - 2nd=