Larry Cohen (bridge)


Larry Neil Cohen is an American bridge player, writer and teacher. He is best known as an advocate for the "Law of Total Tricks" as a guide in the. He has won a World Bridge Championship, 25 North American Bridge Championships events including the Vanderbilt, two Spingolds, two Reisingers, three Von Zedtwitz [Life Master Pairs|Life Master Pairs], and four Blue Ribbon Pairs, and he is a two-time winner of the Cavendish Invitational Pairs cash prize tournament.
Cohen's most important work on "the Law" was To Bid or Not to Bid: The LAW of Total Tricks, published in 1992. It was the best-selling bridge book of the 1990s with more than 90,000 copies sold in six different languages and its sequel Following the Law was another bridge best seller. He is known for long-term expert partnerships with Marty Bergen, Ron Gerard, and David Berkowitz, but announced his retirement from high-level competition in 2009 to devote more time to writing and teaching the game. However, he has, on occasion, played in high-level competition thereafter.
Cohen was born in New York City. He learned to play bridge at age six with his grandparents and brother Paul Cohen, started playing duplicate at age 14, and began playing in tournaments at age 15. He became an American Contract Bridge League Life Master at age 17.
He now makes a living as a bridge teacher, often on cruise ships and as a guest speaker/teacher at country clubs and bridge clubs across the United States and around the world. In March 2020 he and his team successfully transitioned into live webinars. He writes monthly columns titled The Real Deal and Bidding Basics, in the ACBL Bridge Bulletin. An extensive list of bridge articles and information can be found on his website and in his regular newsletters. He currently resides with his wife, Maria Eugenia, in Delray Beach, Florida.
WWW Official Site

Bridge accomplishments

Honors

Awards

  • ACBL Named in Top 52 Most Influential People of Bridge 2013
  • ACBL Honorary Member of the Year 2011
  • ACBL Sportsman of the Year 2003
  • ITES Award 2003
  • ACBL Player of the Year 2002
  • Romex Award 1995, 2000
  • Precision Award 1996
  • ABTA Winner of seven+ Book/Software of the Year Awards

Wins

Runners-up

Selected works

;BooksLarry Teaches Modern Bidding Vol. I, II, and III ABTA Award WinnerOn The Other Hand Co-written with David Bird ABTA Award WinnerOn The Other Hand - Defense Co-written with David Bird ABTA Award WinnerTricks of the Trade ABTA Award WinnerLarry Teaches Declarer Play at Suit Contracts Larry Teaches Declarer Play at Notrump Larry Teaches Defense Larry Teaches Opening Leads ABTA Award WinnerLarry Teaches Doubles and Redoubles Larry Teaches 2/1 Game Force My Favorite 52 Larry Cohen's Bidding Challenge Introduction to the Law Bridge Below the Belt, Cohen and Liz Davis Following the LAW: The Total Tricks Sequel To Bid or Not to Bid: The LAW of Total Tricks ABTA Award Winner
;Interactive CD ROMs
  • The Real Deal Advanced ABTA Award Winner
  • The Real Deal Intermediate ABTA Award Winner
  • Play Bridge with Larry Cohen Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 ABTA Award Winner
  • My Favorite 52 ABTA Award Winner
;CDs
  • Talking Bridge ABTA Award Winner
;DVDs
  • Including: Larry Teaches Third-Hand Play, Second-Hand Play, Signals, Opening Leads, Defensive Planning, Declarer Play at Notrump, Declarer Play at Suit Contracts Draw or Not Draw Trump, 2/1 Game Force, Takeout Doubles, and Slam Bidding. ABTA Award Winner -Technology of the Year