David Berkowitz (contract bridge)
American bridge player

David L. Berkowitz (born November 23, 1949) is an American professional contract bridge player. He is from Old Tappan, New Jersey.
In 1998, he came as close as it is possible to come to a world championship without winning it. In the World Open Pairs, he and Larry Cohen led throughout the five-session final, only to be overtaken on the last two boards. He also earned a bronze medal at the 2000 World Team Olympiad in Maastricht, Netherlands. He was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2010.
Berkowitz, whose wife Lisa is a former women's world champion, often comments, "I am not even the best player in my own house." They reside in Boca Raton, Florida. Their daughter Dana and son Michael play bridge as well.
Bridge accomplishments
Honors
ACBL Hall of Fame, 2010
Awards
Mott-Smith Trophy (Spring NABC) 1982
Fishbein Trophy (Summer NABC) 2011, 2018
Herman Trophy (Fall NABC) 1991
Digital Fountain Award (Best Played Hand of the Year) 2001
Romex Award (Best Bid Hand of the Year) 1995, 2000
Precision Award (Best Defended Hand of the Year) 1996
Wins
North American Bridge Championships (33)
von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs (2) 1987, 1996
Rockwell Mixed Pairs (2) 1986, 1987
Silodor Open Pairs (3) 2004, 2006, 2009
Wernher Open Pairs (2) 1982, 1996
Blue Ribbon Pairs (2) 1978, 1995
North American Pairs (1) 1995
Grand National Teams (9) 1994, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2023
Roth Open Swiss Teams (1) 2011
Vanderbilt (1) 2005
Keohane North American Swiss Teams (1) 1999
Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams (3) 1982, 1991, 2007
Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match (4) 1986, 1993, 1995, 1998
Reisinger (1) 1991
Nail Life Master Open Pairs (1) 2024
United States Bridge Championships (1)
Open Team Trials (1) 2000
Other notable wins:
Buffett Cup (1) 2006
Cavendish Invitational Teams (3) 1983, 1985, 1994
Pan American Open Teams (1) 1992
Reisinger Knockout Teams (2) 1990, 2001
Cap Gemini World Top Invitational Pairs (1) 1999
Cavendish Invitational Individual (1) 1981
Runners-up
World Open Pairs (1) 1998
North American Bridge Championships (27)
Vanderbilt (8) 1979, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2004, 2025
Spingold (4) 1976, 2009, 2010, 2018
Reisinger (4) 1987, 2002, 2004, 2007
Open Board-a-Match Teams (1) 2008
Men's Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1989
North American Swiss Teams (2) 2006, 2022
Mixed Board-a-Match Teams (1) 2011
Blue Ribbon Pairs (2) 1976, 1996
Life Master Open Pairs (1) 1991
Open Pairs (2) 1983, 1985
Open Pairs I (1) 2002
United States Bridge Championships (5)
Open Team Trials (5) 1987, 1989, 1998, 2002, 2008
Other notable 2nd places:
Buffett Cup (1) 2008
Cavendish Invitational Teams (1) 2000
Reisinger Knockout Teams (2) 1973, 1981
Cavendish Invitational Pairs (1) 1983
Cavendish Invitational Individual (1) 1980
References
External links
David Berkowitz at the ACBL Hall of Fame (archived) – with video interview
"International record for David Berkowitz". World Bridge Federation.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “David Berkowitz (contract bridge)” is american bridge player. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through David, Berkowitz and contract, not as a finished interpretation.
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