Ron Andersen
Ronald Eugene Andersen 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.
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.
Andersen co-wrote seven books related to the Precision Club bidding system with C. C. Wei, inventor of the system, or Kathie Wei.
Andersen and Sabine Zenkel traveled the world as a partnership during 1991–1992, based in Chicago. They also wrote a book, Preempts from A to Z.
Publications
;with C. C. Wei- Newly revised and expanded in 1978.
- Reprinted in 1992 by Devyn Press, Louisville KY.
- Second edition published in 1996.
Bridge accomplishments
Awards
- Mott-Smith Trophy 1974
- ACBL annual masterpoints leader : McKenney Trophy 1977, 1980, 1983; Barry Crane Trophy, 1986
Wins
- North American Bridge Championships
- * von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs 1982
- * Blue Ribbon Pairs 1978
- * Nail Life Master Open Pairs 1970
- * Jacoby Open Swiss Teams 1989
- * Marcus Cup 1965
- * Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams 1974
- * Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match 1971
- * Reisinger 1980
- * Spingold 1983, 1986, 1988
Runners-up
- North American Bridge Championships
- * Rockwell Mixed Pairs 1993
- * Silodor Open Pairs 1974
- * Wernher Open Pairs 1983
- * Blue Ribbon Pairs 1975
- * Vanderbilt 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980
- * Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams 1984
- * Reisinger 1986, 1992
- * Spingold 1990