David Berkowitz (bridge)

David L. (Dave) Berkowitz (born November 23, 1949)^[1] is an American professional bridge player. He is from Old Tappan, New Jersey.^[2]

In 1998, he came as close as it is possible to come to a world championship without winning it. In the World Open Pairs, he and Larry Cohen led throughout the five-session final, only to be overtaken on the last two boards. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2000 World Team Olympiad in Maastricht, Netherlands. He was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2010.^[3][4]

Berkowitz whose wife, Lisa, is a former women's world champion, often comments, "I am not even the best player in my own house." They reside in Boca Raton, Florida. Their daughter Dana also plays bridge as well.

Bridge accomplishments

Honors

• ACBL Hall of Fame, 2010^[3]

Awards

• Mott-Smith Trophy (Spring NABC) 1982
• Fishbein Trophy (Summer NABC) 2011
• Herman Trophy (Fall NABC) 1991
• Digital Fountain Award (Best Played Hand of the Year) 2001
• Romex Award (Best Bid Hand of the Year) 1995, 2000
• Precision Award (Best Defended Hand of the Year) 1996

Wins

• North American Bridge Championships (29)
  • von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs (2) 1987, 1996 ^[5]
  • Rockwell Mixed Pairs (2) 1986, 1987 ^[6]
  • Silodor Open Pairs (3) 2004, 2006, 2009 ^[7]
  • Wernher Open Pairs (2) 1982, 1996 ^[8]
  • Blue Ribbon Pairs (2) 1978, 1995 ^[9]
  • North American Pairs (1) 1995 ^[10]
  • Grand National Teams (6) 1994, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 ^[11]
  • Roth Open Swiss Teams (1) 2011 ^[12]
  • Vanderbilt (1) 2005 ^[13]
  • Keohane North American Swiss Teams (1) 1999 ^[14]
  • Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams (3) 1982, 1991, 2007 ^[15]
  • Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match (4) 1986, 1993, 1995, 1998 ^[16]
  • Reisinger (1) 1991 ^[17]
• United States Bridge Championships (1)
  • Open Team Trials (1) 2000
• Other notable wins:
  • Buffett Cup (1) 2006
  • Cavendish Invitational Teams (3) 1983, 1985, 1994
  • Pan American Open Teams (1) 1992
  • Reisinger Knockout Teams (2) 1990, 2001
  • Cap Gemini World Top Invitational Pairs (1) 1999
  • Cavendish Invitational Individual (1) 1981

Runners-up

• World Open Pairs (1) 1998
• North American Bridge Championships (24)
  • Vanderbilt (7) 1979, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2004
  • Spingold (3) 1976, 2009, 2010
  • Reisinger (4) 1987, 2002, 2004, 2007
  • Open Board-a-Match Teams (1) 2008
  • Men's Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1989
  • North American Swiss Teams (1) 2006
  • Mixed Board-a-Match Teams (1) 2011
  • Blue Ribbon Pairs (2) 1976, 1996
  • Life Master Open Pairs (1) 1991
  • Open Pairs (2) 1983, 1985
  • Open Pairs I (1) 2002
• United States Bridge Championships (5)
  • Open Team Trials (5) 1987, 1989, 1998, 2002, 2008
• Other notable 2nd places:
  • Buffett Cup (1) 2008
  • Cavendish Invitational Teams (1) 2000
  • Reisinger Knockout Teams (2) 1973, 1981
  • Cavendish Invitational Pairs (1) 1983
  • Cavendish Invitational Individual (1) 1980

References

1. Truscott, Alan (November 25, 1978). "Berkowitz on 29th Birthday Captures Blue Ribbon Title". The New York Times.
2. Francis, Henry G., Editor-in-Chief; Truscott, Alan F., Executive Editor; Francis, Dorthy A., Editor, Fifth Edition (1994). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (5th ed.). Memphis, TN: American Contract Bridge League. p. 575. ISBN 0-943855-48-9. LCCN 96188639.
3. "Induction by Year". Hall of Fame. ACBL. Retrieved 2014-12-16.
4. "Berkowitz, David". Hall of Fame. ACBL. Retrieved 2014-12-16.
5. "von Zedtwitz LM Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-06-18. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
6. "Rockwell Mixed Pairs Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-03-25. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
7. "Silodor Open Pairs Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-27. p. 11. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
8. "Wernher Open Pairs Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-22. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
9. "Blue Ribbon Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-03. p. 5. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
10. "NAP Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-03-21. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
11. "GNT Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2009-07-24. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
12. "Roth Open Swiss Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-26. p. 10. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
13. "Vanderbilt Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-03-24. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
14. "Keohane Swiss Teams Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-06. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
15. "Mitchell BAM Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-01. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
16. "Mixed BAM Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-24. p. 14. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
17. "Reisinger Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-06. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.

External links

• Citation at the ACBL Hall of Fame – with video interview
• David Berkowitz international record at the World Bridge Federation.
• David Berkowitz profile at United States Bridge Federation
• BERKOWITZ David athlete information at the 1st SportAccord World Mind Games (2011)
• ACBL Hall of Fame induction audio-video recordings at YouTube: presentation by Larry Cohen (8:40) and acceptance by Berkowitz (6:00), both uploaded July 24, 2010, by Cohen