Mike Lawrence (bridge)

For other people named Michael Lawrence or Mike Lawrence, see Michael Lawrence (disambiguation).

Michael Steven (Mike) Lawrence (born May 28, 1940)[1] is an American bridge player, teacher, theorist, and prolific writer.

Biography

Lawrence was born in San Francisco.[1] He started playing bridge while he was a chemistry student at the University of California; as result of a self-inflicted hand injury, he had to postpone the final exams and started playing bridge as a pastime. Bridge became his major interest and he devoted his subsequent life to it.

In 1968, he was invited by Ira Corn to join the newly formed Dallas Aces team. He formed a partnership with Bobby Goldman, with whom he played a 2/1 game forcing system. They started by winning several North American Bridge Championships and, after a long Italian Blue Team reign, returned the world crown to America by winning the Bermuda Bowls in 1970 and 1971. Lawrence and James Jacoby left the Aces in 1973.

Under Ira Corn's mentorship, Lawrence started teaching bridge and subsequently writing books. He has written more than twenty books since. He received numerous book-of-the-year awards starting with his first book, How to Read Your Opponents' Cards. He contributed to the theory of 2/1 game forcing systems, and his "2/1 semi-forcing" approach competes with Max Hardy's "unconditional forcing" approach. Together, they wrote the book Standard Bridge Bidding for the 21st Century in 2000. He also helped develop educational bridge software with Fred Gitelman.

In addition to his world championships with the Aces, Lawrence has won another Bermuda Bowl in 1987 in partnership with Hugh Ross along with teammates Hamman, Wolff, Martel, and Stansby.

Bridge accomplishments

Awards

Wins

Runners-up

Publications

Dates indicate first and most recent publication.

References

  1. 1 2 According to the State of California (CA Birth Index). At Family Tree Legends. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  2. ↑ "von Zedtwitz LM Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-06-18. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. ↑ "Wernher Open Pairs Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-22. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. ↑ "GNT Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2009-07-24. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. 1 2 "Vanderbilt Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-03-24. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  6. 1 2 "Mitchell BAM Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-01. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  7. ↑ "Mixed BAM Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-24. p. 14. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  8. 1 2 "Reisinger Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-06. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  9. 1 2 "Spingold Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-21. p. 12. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  10. ↑ "Blue Ribbon Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 7. p. 5. Retrieved 2014-10-17. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ↑ "Life Master Open Pairs Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-11-29. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  12. ↑ "Jacoby Open Swiss Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-03-29. p. 9. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  13. ↑ "Keohane Swiss Teams Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-06. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-10-17.

External links

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