Larry Cohen (bridge player)

Larry Neil Cohen (born April 14, 1959, New York City, New York) is an American bridge player and writer. He is the winner of 24 national championships including the Vanderbilt, 2 Spingolds, 2 Reisingers, 3 Life Master Pairs, and 4 Blue Ribbon Pairs as well as a two-time winner of Cavendish Invitational Pairs.

He authored To Bid or Not to Bid: The Law of Total Tricks; it was the best-selling bridge book of the 1990s with more than 55,000 copies sold in a total of six different languages. It and its sequel Following the Law deal with the "Law of Total Tricks." He is well known for his former playing partnership with Marty Bergen whose ideas meshed well with his own. His current bridge partner is David Berkowitz.

He learned to play bridge at age 6 from his grandparents, started playing duplicate at age 14, and began playing in tournaments at age 15. He became an American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Life Master at age 17.

He currently resides with his wife, Maria, in Boca Raton, Florida. He works as a bridge teacher, often on cruise ships. He writes a monthly column,The Real Deal in the ACBL's Bridge Bulletin.

Honors

* Sidney H. Lazard Jr. Sportsmanship Award 2003

Awards

* ACBL Player of the Year 2002
* Romex Award (Best Bid Hand of the Year) 1995, 2000
* Precision Award (Best Defended Hand of the Year) 1996
* ITES Award (Best Defended Hand of the Year) 2003 (Winning Journalist)

Wins

* North American Bridge Championships (24)
** Vanderbilt (1) 2005
** Spingold (2) 1981, 1984
** Reisinger (2) 1985, 1991
** Grand National Teams (3) 1994, 2007, 2008
** Open Board-a-Match Teams (2) 1991, 2007
** Men's Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1984
** North American Swiss Teams (1) 1999
** Mixed Board-a-Match Teams (1) 2002
** Blue Ribbon Pairs (4) 1981, 1983, 1988, 1995
** Life Master Pairs (3) 1987, 1988, 1996
** Life Master Men's Pairs (1) 1983
** Open Pairs I (2) 2004, 2006
** Open Pairs II (1) 1996
* United States Bridge Championships (1)
** Open Team Trials (1) 2000
* Other notable wins:
** Warren Buffett Cup (1) 2006
** Cavendish Invitational Teams (2) 1988, 1994
** Pan American Open Teams (1) 1992
** Cap Gemini World Top Invitational Pairs (1) 1999
** Cavendish Invitational Pairs (2) 1984, 1989
** Goldman Pairs (1) 1983

Runner-ups

* World Open Pairs (1) 1998
* North American Bridge Championships (20)
** Vanderbilt (4) 1990, 1993, 1998, 2004
** Spingold (1) 1983
** Reisinger (3) 2002, 2004, 2007
** Grand National Teams (1) 1991
** Open Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1990
** North American Swiss Teams (1) 2006
** Master Mixed Teams (1) 1994
** Blue Ribbon Pairs (1) 1996
** Life Master Open Pairs (2) 1991, 2002
** Life Master Men's Pairs (1) 1986
** Grand National Pairs (2) 1980, 1984
** Open Pairs (1) 1979
** Open Pairs I (1) 2002
* United States Bridge Championships (4)
** Open Team Trials (4) 1985, 1998, 2002, 2008
* Other notable 2nd places:
** Cavendish Invitational Teams (2) 1986, 2000
** Goldman Pairs (1) 1991

Bibliography

Books
*"To Bid or Not to Bid: The Law of Total Tricks"
*"Following the LAW: The Total Tricks Sequel"
*"Bidding Challenge"
*"Bridge Below the Belt" (with Liz Davis)

Interactive CD ROMs
*"Play Bridge with Larry Cohen (1999 Life Master Pairs)" Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3
*"My Favorite 52" (2005)

References

* [http://larryco.com/about.htm Larry Cohen biographical information]

External links

* [http://larryco.com/index.html Official website]
* [http://www.worldbridge.org/people/person.asp?qryid=79 World Bridge Federation profile]