David Berkowitz (contract bridge)
David L. Berkowitz is an American professional contract bridge player. He is from Old Tappan, New Jersey.
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.
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 and son Michael play bridge as well.
Bridge accomplishments
Honors
- ACBL Hall of Fame, 2010
Awards
- Mott-Smith Trophy 1982
- Fishbein Trophy 2011, 2018
- Herman Trophy 1991
- Digital Fountain Award 2001
- Romex Award 1995, 2000
- Precision Award 1996
Wins
- North American Bridge Championships
- * von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs 1987, 1996
- * Rockwell Mixed Pairs 1986, 1987
- * Silodor Open Pairs 2004, 2006, 2009
- * Wernher Open Pairs 1982, 1996
- * Blue Ribbon Pairs 1978, 1995
- * North American Pairs 1995
- * Grand National Teams 1994, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2023
- * Roth Open Swiss Teams 2011
- * Vanderbilt 2005
- * Keohane North American Swiss Teams 1999
- * Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams 1982, 1991, 2007
- * Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match 1986, 1993, 1995, 1998
- * Reisinger 1991
- * Nail Life Master Open Pairs 2024
- United States Bridge Championships
- * Open Team Trials 2000
- Other notable wins:
- * Buffett Cup 2006
- * Cavendish Invitational Teams 1983, 1985, 1994
- * Pan American Open Teams 1992
- * Reisinger Knockout Teams 1990, 2001
- * Cap Gemini World Top Invitational Pairs 1999
- * Cavendish Invitational Individual 1981
Runners-up
- World Open Pairs 1998
- North American Bridge Championships
- * Vanderbilt 1979, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2004, 2025
- * Spingold 1976, 2009, 2010, 2018
- * Reisinger 1987, 2002, 2004, 2007
- * Open Board-a-Match Teams 2008
- * Men's Board-a-Match Teams 1989
- * North American Swiss Teams 2006, 2022
- * Mixed Board-a-Match Teams 2011
- * Blue Ribbon Pairs 1976, 1996
- * Life Master Open Pairs 1991
- * Open Pairs 1983, 1985
- * Open Pairs I 2002
- United States Bridge Championships
- * Open Team Trials 1987, 1989, 1998, 2002, 2008
- Other notable 2nd places:
- * Buffett Cup 2008
- * Cavendish Invitational Teams 2000
- * Reisinger Knockout Teams 1973, 1981
- * Cavendish Invitational Pairs 1983
- * Cavendish Invitational Individual 1980