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MM: Thank you John for agreeing to this interview. How long have
you been playing Monopoly and what is it about the game you like?
JB: As with most of us, my initial games were with my parents.
I have since gone on to play with my numerous children. Often
frustrating, with the mother feeling sorry for any child found to
be suffering at my competitive hands and simply gifting sites to
those found struggling!
MM: I've always thought of Monopoly as little more than just a fun
pastime for children and adults but it is obviously a lot more
than that to you. What are the basic strategies in the game?
JB: A number of aspects are akin to backgammon. To consistently
do well it is necessary to have at least a modicum of patience.
Long term vision is important as is the need to balance basic
aggressiveness with practicality.
MM: In backgammon we can break the game types down to 4 basic
strategies - holding game, priming game, blitz game and back game.
Can the same sort of thing be done with Monopoly?
JB: To a certain extent - yes. During the early stages it is
all about building up assets. The middle stage is negotiating and
doing deals. The latter stages relate to creating bricks and
mortar and going for the jugular.
MM: You are a property developer by profession. How much does this
help you in playing Monopoly?
JB: There is a definite need in both businesses to be level
headed and balance adventure with realism.
MM: Can you tell us something about how you became the UK Monopoly
Champion this year?
JB: I participated in a regional heat last year in Skegness -
which involved a mad dash from a backgammon tournament in Dublin.
Plane to Birmingham and trains via Nottingham. The top four
scorers - three rounds each lasting an hour - went through to the
grand final last May at the Mayfair Hotel in London.
MM: I know you have been to Las Vegas numerous times before for
backgammon tournaments. What is it about the town that you like
and will you be doing other things in the USA?
JB: Las Vegas recreates for real a fantasy world. All you need
is a certain commodity called money! After the Monopoly will be
visiting friends in Los Angeles, using my son David an excuse to
visit Disneyland and Universal Studios. We will stay a few days on
the Queen Mary - now berthed permanently at Long Beach - and
thereafter will return to Las Vegas for the early November
backgammon tournament.
MM: You lead a very active life; it's rare not to see you at
backgammon events, you follow Davis Cup Tennis with a passion, you
have a busy family life and you play Monopoly. What else do you do
you and how do you find the time to do all that you do?
JB: A still prominent activity is my business affairs, where my
main passion is the property consultancy advising, these days,
mainly good friends (including one or two backgammon friends). On
a par with this is my continued admiration for the ladies!
MM: What lessons do you think backgammon could learn from the
other games and sports you are involved in?
JB: Not to forget that at the end of the day it is still a
'game' and to remember the sportsmanlike qualities that sometimes
tend to fall by the wayside.
MM: Will we here in London be able to keep abreast with your
progress in Las Vegas and if so how?
JB: I hope so. I suspect Hasbros - the American owners of the
game, will run a website showing live action.
MM: Thank you John for this interview and we wish you luck in Las
Vegas.
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