November 2016 - 16
They're Back
Bergen-Cohen reunite for the Orlando NABC
BY SUE MUNDAY
T
wenty-five years after their last
NABC win, Larry Cohen and
Marty Bergen are returning to
their once-familiar seats across the
table from each other. The kibitzer
buzz has it that fans are making travel
arrangements to Orlando just to be
tableside for the pair's comeback
appearance.
Between 1983 and 1991, Bergen and
Cohen were one of the most formidable
pairs to face. During that time, they
won eight North American titles and
chalked up a half dozen second-place
showings.
Pressure
The Bergen-Cohen key to success
was a super-aggressive edge, backed
by excellent decision-making and card
play. Their hallmark was lighter-thanair preempts, which they Alerted.
"What we were doing 30 years ago
is much more common today," Larry
says. "Back then, auctions were kinder
and gentler: You could have a 1♥-2♥
auction and play it there. People didn't
get into your face competing for the
partscore."
The Law of Total Tricks guided their
competitive bidding structure. Marty
was an advocate of Jean Rene Vernes's
Law long before it became fashionable,
and the entire Bergen raise system was
built on it. Larry's 1992 "To Bid or Not
to Bid" brought the Law into mainstream usage.
Bergen-Cohen also brought a certain
physical presence to the table. Marty
describes their persona: "There was
Larry, who's shy as opposed to me ..."
Marty backtracks to emphasize, "Well,
shy as opposed to most everyone ... And
then there was me. I wore all black on
championship Sunday and carried
a big stein of water to the table. I
16 Bridge Bulletin November 2016
weighed a lot more in those days." To
amp up, Bergen would put on his headphones and listen to "Pressure" by Billy
Joel before the game.
Coming Up
Eleven years separate Bergen
and Cohen, who are both Florida
transplants from New York. Cohen
moved in 1996 "mostly for the golf,"
and Bergen relocated in 1998.
"Marty was already famous when I
was a teenager," says Larry. "When I
was 16, I kibitzed him at a local sectional. At the end of the event, we chatted and became friends."
As they got to know each other, "it
was obvious to me that Larry was a
player," Marty says.
In 1982, five years after they met, the
two started playing together. "We had
good success right away," Larry says.
Each had two North American
Championships under his belt when, at
the 1983 Fall NABC in Bal Harbour FL,
they won the Life Master Men's Pairs
(now the Nail Life Master Pairs).
They then won the next NABC
event in that same tournament - the
three-day Blue Ribbon Pairs - setting
a record as the first pair ever to win
both the Life Master Men's Pairs and
the Blue Ribbon Pairs in the same year.
Larry set a record of his own as he
became the first player to win the Blue
Ribbon Pairs twice (he previously won
it in 1981).
In the Bal Harbour Daily Bulletin,
Larry credited their astounding results
to the close friendship he and Marty
shared. "We're good friends away from
the table, and we never argue. We
might talk about sex or sports at the
bridge table - but never bridge!"
This deal from the Blue Ribbon
shows their aggressive style and defensive prowess.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2016
In First Seat - by Paul Linxwiler
InBox
From the CEO - by Robert Hartman
Fall NABC in Orlando
2016 Spingold KO a slugfest
Bergen-Cohen reunite for the Orlando NABC
BIFiLeaks - by Simon Cocheme
Product Reviews
Lifetime Achievement
Conventional Wisdom Lite
Handling Interference
Untangling the Web
2017 NABC Schedule of National-Rated Events
A Game for All Ages
Club News
Tournament Talk
Big Games
The Bidding Box
It's Your Call
Card Play 101 - by Phillip Alder
Bridge Player's Survival Kit - by Leslie Shafer
Play & Learn - by Pat Harrington
Startup Bridge - by Lynn Berg
Ask Jerry - by Jerry Helms
Bill L. Harlan 1937-2016
Ruling the Game - by Matt Smith
Challenge of the Month
Out of Hand
Chalk Talk - by Eddie Kantar
East Hands for the November Bidding Box
Mike's Bridge Lesson - by Mike Lawrence
Misplay these Hands with Me - by Mark Horton
West Hands for the November Bidding Box
The Real Deal - by Larry Cohen
Boehm on Bridge - by August Boehm
Better Bridge with Bergen - by Marty Bergen
My Bridge and Yours - by Frank Stewart
Bidding Matters - by Karen Walker
International Fund Game winners
Test Your Play
Mike's Advice - by Mike Lawrence
Solutions to Test Your Play
Bridge with the Abbot - by David Bird
Dear Billy - by Billy Miller
George's World - by George Jacobs
Obituary - Jackie Matthews 1936-2016
In Memoriam
Obituary - Mark Blumenthal 1942-2016
Compendium of Bridge Excuses
IBPA Awards
WBF Honors Georgia Heth
Teachers' Lounge
Life Master Milestones
New Life Masters
It's Your Call - Top scores for September
Tournament Directory
November 2016 - 1
November 2016 - 2
November 2016 - 3
November 2016 - 4
November 2016 - 5
November 2016 - In First Seat - by Paul Linxwiler
November 2016 - InBox
November 2016 - 8
November 2016 - From the CEO - by Robert Hartman
November 2016 - Fall NABC in Orlando
November 2016 - 2016 Spingold KO a slugfest
November 2016 - 12
November 2016 - 13
November 2016 - 14
November 2016 - 15
November 2016 - Bergen-Cohen reunite for the Orlando NABC
November 2016 - 17
November 2016 - 18
November 2016 - 19
November 2016 - BIFiLeaks - by Simon Cocheme
November 2016 - Product Reviews
November 2016 - Lifetime Achievement
November 2016 - 23
November 2016 - Conventional Wisdom Lite
November 2016 - Handling Interference
November 2016 - 26
November 2016 - Untangling the Web
November 2016 - 28
November 2016 - 29
November 2016 - 2017 NABC Schedule of National-Rated Events
November 2016 - A Game for All Ages
November 2016 - Club News
November 2016 - 33
November 2016 - 34
November 2016 - Tournament Talk
November 2016 - Big Games
November 2016 - The Bidding Box
November 2016 - 38
November 2016 - 39
November 2016 - It's Your Call
November 2016 - 41
November 2016 - 42
November 2016 - 43
November 2016 - Card Play 101 - by Phillip Alder
November 2016 - Bridge Player's Survival Kit - by Leslie Shafer
November 2016 - Play & Learn - by Pat Harrington
November 2016 - Startup Bridge - by Lynn Berg
November 2016 - Bill L. Harlan 1937-2016
November 2016 - Ruling the Game - by Matt Smith
November 2016 - Out of Hand
November 2016 - East Hands for the November Bidding Box
November 2016 - Mike's Bridge Lesson - by Mike Lawrence
November 2016 - West Hands for the November Bidding Box
November 2016 - The Real Deal - by Larry Cohen
November 2016 - Boehm on Bridge - by August Boehm
November 2016 - Better Bridge with Bergen - by Marty Bergen
November 2016 - My Bridge and Yours - by Frank Stewart
November 2016 - Bidding Matters - by Karen Walker
November 2016 - Test Your Play
November 2016 - Mike's Advice - by Mike Lawrence
November 2016 - Solutions to Test Your Play
November 2016 - Bridge with the Abbot - by David Bird
November 2016 - Dear Billy - by Billy Miller
November 2016 - Obituary - Jackie Matthews 1936-2016
November 2016 - Obituary - Mark Blumenthal 1942-2016
November 2016 - WBF Honors Georgia Heth
November 2016 - Teachers' Lounge
November 2016 - Life Master Milestones
November 2016 - 69
November 2016 - 70
November 2016 - New Life Masters
November 2016 - Tournament Directory
November 2016 - 73
November 2016 - 74
November 2016 - 75
November 2016 - 76
November 2016 - 77
November 2016 - 78
November 2016 - 79
November 2016 - 80
November 2016 - 81
November 2016 - 82
November 2016 - 83
November 2016 - 84
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