Marty Bergen (bridge)
Marty A. Bergen is an American bridge teacher, writer and player. A ten-time national champion and American Contract Bridge League Grand Life Master, he retired from active competition in 1993. He is still a bridge teacher and writer and is a World Bridge Federation World International Master. He was recently voted to be the 22nd most influential person in the history of bridge.
Bergen has been a columnist in the monthly ACBL Bridge Bulletin since 1976. He has also written a total of 69 bridge books and booklets from 1995 to 2018 Two of his books won the ABTA Bridge Book of the Year award, Points Schmoints!: Bergen's Winning Bridge Secrets in 1996 and Declarer Play the Bergen Way in 2005.
Bergen is known for his development of many new conventions and treatments. His most popular ones are DONT, Bergen raises, 1NT semi-forcing and The Rule of 20. He and Larry Cohen were one of the most successful pairs in the 1980s, and they later were instrumental in educating players about the Law of Total Tricks.
Bergen is married to Cheryl Bergen née Lance and they reside in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Bridge accomplishments
Awards
- Herman Trophy 1983
- American Bridge Teachers' Association Book of the Year 1996, 2005
- Elected to Bridge Hall of Fame in 2022
Wins
- North American Bridge Championships
- * Spingold 1984
- * Reisinger 1985, 1991
- * Men's Board-a-Match Teams 1981, 1984
- * Blue Ribbon Pairs 1983, 1988
- * Life Master Pairs 1988
- * Life Master Men's Pairs 1983
- * Men's Pairs 1983
- Other notable wins:
- * Pan-American Maccabi Games 1983
- * Cavendish Invitational Teams 1988
- * Cavendish Invitational Pairs 1984, 1989
- * Goldman Pairs 1983
Runners-up
- North American Bridge Championships
- * Vanderbilt 1982, 1990
- * Spingold 1983
- * Grand National Teams 1979, 1991
- * Open Board-a-Match Teams 1990
- * Master Mixed Teams 1989, 1991
- * Life Master Men's Pairs 1986
- * Grand National Pairs 1984
- United States Bridge Championships
- * Open Team Trials 1985
- Other notable 2nd places:
- * Cavendish Invitational Teams 1986