Ron Andersen

Ron Andersen (1941^[1] – July 3, 1997)^[2] was an American bridge player. He won 11 "national"-rated events at North American Bridge Championships, thrice-annual 10-day meets organized by the American Contract Bridge League, where he became known best as a superior live commentator in the vugraph room.

Andersen was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and studied at the University of Iowa before beginning a professional bridge career. Eventually he owned a seat on the Chicago Board Options Exchange and he died in a Chicago hospital at age 56.^[2]

Andersen finally became a favorite commentator for European Bridge League and World Bridge Federation championships, as well as major ACBL tournaments. In the month before his death, June 1997, he worked the European Championships in Italy, from which he was flown home to Chicago after suffering two strokes in consequence of kidney failure.^[2]

Andersen co-wrote seven books related to the Precision Club bidding system with C. C. Wei, inventor of the system, or Kathie Wei.^[2]

Andersen and Sabine Zenkel traveled the world as a partnership during 1991–1992, based in Chicago.^[3] They also wrote a book, Preempts from A to Z (1993; 2nd, 1996).

Publications

• — (1970). Where and How High/For People Who Hate to Read Bridge Books. Wisconsin, IL: Wisconsin Bridge association.
• — (1987). The Lebensohl Convention Complete in Contract Bridge. Port Chester, NY: Barclay Bridge Supplies. LCCN 88146628.

with C. C. Wei

• — (1976). Match Point Precision. New York City, NY: Monna Lisa Precision Corporation. Newly revised and expanded in 1978. ISBN 978-0876430378
• — (1976). Bidding Precisely Volume 2/Making the Most of Limited Openings. New York City, NY: Monna Lisa Precision Corporation.
• — (1977). Profits from Preempts/Bidding Precisely Volume 3. New York City, NY: Monna Lisa Precision Corporation. Reprinted in 1992 by Devyn Press, Louisville KY. ISBN 0910791376
• — (1978). Perfect Your No Trump Bidding/Bidding Precisely Volume 4. New York City, NY: Monna Lisa Precision Corporation.

with Sabine Zenkel

• — (1993). Preempts from A to Z. Stamford, CT: Magnus Books. ISBN 0-9637533-0-4. LCCN 93-079256. Second edition published in 1996.

Bridge accomplishments

Awards

• Mott-Smith Trophy (1) 1974
• ACBL annual masterpoints leader (4): McKenney Trophy 1977, 1980, 1983; Barry Crane Trophy, 1986^[2]

Wins

• North American Bridge Championships (11)
  • von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs (1) 1982 ^[4]
  • Blue Ribbon Pairs (1) 1978 ^[5]
  • Nail Life Master Open Pairs (1) 1970 ^[6]
  • Jacoby Open Swiss Teams (1) 1989 ^[7]
  • Marcus Cup (1) 1965
  • Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1974 ^[8]
  • Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match (1) 1971 ^[9]
  • Reisinger (1) 1980 ^[10]
  • Spingold (3) 1983, 1986, 1988 ^[11]

Runners-up

• North American Bridge Championships
  • Rockwell Mixed Pairs (1) 1993 ^[12]
  • Silodor Open Pairs (1) 1974 ^[13]
  • Wernher Open Pairs (1) 1983 ^[14]
  • Blue Ribbon Pairs (1) 1975 ^[5]
  • Vanderbilt (4) 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980 ^[15]
  • Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1984 ^[8]
  • Reisinger (2) 1986, 1992 ^[10]
  • Spingold (1) 1990 ^[11]

References

1. 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. 562. ISBN 0-943855-48-9. LCCN 96188639.
2. "Ron Andersen, Bridge Titlist and Commentator, Dies at 56". Alan Truscott. The New York Times. July 13, 1997. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
3. "Bridge: How a small deception earned a Chicago partnership an extra trick and a major victory". Alan Truscott. The New York Times. January 18, 1992. Page 17.
4. "von Zedtwitz LM Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-06-18. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
5. "Blue Ribbon Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-03. p. 5. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
6. "Life Master Open Pairs Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-11-29. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
7. "Jacoby Open Swiss Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-03-29. p. 9. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
8. "Mitchell BAM Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-01. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
9. "Mixed BAM Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-24. p. 14. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
10. "Reisinger Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2013-12-06. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
11. "Spingold Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-21. p. 12. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
12. "Rockwell Mixed Pairs Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-03-25. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
13. "Silodor Open Pairs Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-27. p. 11. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
14. "Wernher Open Pairs Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-07-22. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
15. "Vanderbilt Previous Winners" (PDF). American Contract Bridge League. 2014-03-24. p. 6. Retrieved 2014-10-17.

External links

• "International record for Ron Andersen". World Bridge Federation.
  
• Ron Andersen at Library of Congress Authorities, with 2 catalog records