Mike Lawrence (bridge)
Michael Steven Lawrence is an American bridge player, teacher, theorist, and prolific writer.
Biography
Lawrence was born in San Francisco. 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 thirty books. 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
- Herman Trophy 1965
Wins
- Bermuda Bowl 1970, 1971, 1987
- North American Bridge Championships
- * von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs 1984
- * Wernher Open Pairs 1984
- * Grand National Teams 1987
- * Vanderbilt 1967, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1985
- * Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams 1964, 1968
- * Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match 1992
- * Reisinger 1965, 1970, 1977, 1980
- * Spingold 1969
Runners-up
- Bermuda Bowl 1973, 1989
- North American Bridge Championships
- * Blue Ribbon Pairs 1965, 1968, 1971, 1983
- * Nail Life Master Open Pairs 1978
- * Jacoby Open Swiss Teams 1994
- * Vanderbilt 1970
- * Keohane North American Swiss Teams 1996
- * Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams 1969
- * Reisinger 1983
- * Spingold 1970, 1976, 1980, 1985
Publications
Dates indicate original publication date and revised/later edition publication date.How to Read Your Opponent's Cards: The Bridge Experts' Way to Locate Missing High Cards Winning Backgammon Introduction to Contract Bridge and Point Count Bidding Judgment at Bridge The Complete Book on Overcalls in Contract Bridge True Bridge Humor The Complete Book on Balancing in Contract Bridge Play a Swiss Teams of Four with Mike Lawrence Dynamic Defense The Complete Book on Hand Evaluation in Contract Bridge The Jacoby & Texas Transfers Convention The Lebensohl Convention Major Suit Raises Partnership Understandings Play Bridge with Mike Lawrence Winning Bridge Intangibles Falsecards Mike Lawrence's Workbook on the Two Over One System The Ultimate Guide to Winning Scrabble Brand Crossword Game How to Play Card Combinations The Complete Guide to Passed Hand Bidding Mike Lawrences's Bidding Quizzes, Volume 1: The Uncontested Auction Topics on Bridge, Series 1 - Numbers 1-15 The Complete Guide to Contested Auctions Topics on Bridge, Series 2 - Numbers 16-30 The Complete Book on Takeout Doubles Disturbing Opponents No Trump Opening Leads Opening Leads for Acol Players Double! New Meanings for an Old Bid I Fought the Law of Total Tricks Tips on Bidding - Mike Lawrence Bridge Tips Tips on Competitive Bidding - Mike Lawrence Bridge Tips Tips on Cardplay - Mike Lawrence Bridge Tips Judgment at Bridge 2: Be a Better Player and More Difficult Opponent Insights on Bridge, Book 1: Moments in Bidding Insights on Bridge, Book 2: Bid, Play, and Defend Insights on Bridge, Book 3: Bid, Play, and Defend- ''My Life with Bridge''