Sedat Aluf (BBO: monk99), the winner of July's Stars & Platinum Robot Individual, took the time to share his story and experiences in an interview. Let's get to know him better.

Sedat is 57 years old and lives in Instanbul with his wife Tuna Aluf (BBO: tuna2). They have a daughter named Pelin, who currently lives in Montreal. They also have an adorable Pomeranian dog named Minnie.

He started his bridge career in 1986 at the age of 20. Although he has participated in numerous international events, he humbly downplays any major success. He recalls achieving a commendable result with his former partner Namik Kokten (naumoski) in the 2018 European Team Championship held in Oestende, Belgium. "For me, it was the toughest tournament I had ever played in".

He modestly expressed that he didn't feel much different about his remarkable achievement in securing the top position. For him, what truly matters is consistently achieving good results and competing among the top players. "I believe that small factors play a significant role in determining the winner. It could be the hands you are dealt, successfully guessing two-way finesses on a lucky day, or even rare instances where your mistakes are rewarded by the robots. With very close scores, both skill and luck are essential", he adds.

In the BBOers Festival, Sedat also participated in the Country vs Country Championships and Robot Survivor.

He plays other robot games regularly too. "I enjoy playing Zenith, 55%, and Robot Reward. I find that bidding practice and playing Vugraph hands particularly beneficial for improving my bridge skills."

Based on his experience, he advises players who want to excel in robot tournaments to try and better understand robot behavior. "Robots are complex, even a single card you played can change the way they play or defend. You can trick the robots with your bids, like hiding a 4/5 card Major after opening 1NT or weakly opening 2 Clubs at third seat. They won't interfere easily with strong balanced hands. But be cautious of bidding explanations that might push you to higher levels with weak hands. If you suggest more than you're holding, it's best to let go of the temptation to bid, especially in competitive bidding situations."

Apart from bridge, he also loves skiing, basketball, and table tennis. He adds, "I like cooking, but I'm not very good at it. During the pandemic, my wife stopped me from cooking because I used to make a mess in the kitchen!"