November 2016 - 16

They're Back

Bergen-Cohen reunite for the Orlando NABC
BY SUE MUNDAY

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