Ron Andersen

Ronald Eugene Andersen  (May 26, 1941 – July 3, 1997) 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 (1993; 2nd, 1996).

Publications

 * with C. C. Wei
 * Newly revised and expanded in 1978. ISBN 978-0876430378
 * Reprinted in 1992 by Devyn Press, Louisville KY. ISBN 0910791376
 * with Sabine Zenkel
 * Second edition published in 1996.
 * Reprinted in 1992 by Devyn Press, Louisville KY. ISBN 0910791376
 * with Sabine Zenkel
 * Second edition published in 1996.
 * Second edition published in 1996.

Awards

 * Mott-Smith Trophy (1) 1974
 * ACBL annual masterpoints leader (4): McKenney Trophy 1977, 1980, 1983; Barry Crane Trophy, 1986

Wins

 * North American Bridge Championships (11)
 * von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs (1) 1982
 * Blue Ribbon Pairs (1) 1978
 * Nail Life Master Open Pairs (1) 1970
 * Jacoby Open Swiss Teams (1) 1989
 * Marcus Cup (1) 1965
 * Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1974
 * Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match (1) 1971
 * Reisinger (1) 1980
 * Spingold (3) 1983, 1986, 1988

Runners-up

 * North American Bridge Championships
 * Rockwell Mixed Pairs (1) 1993
 * Silodor Open Pairs (1) 1974
 * Wernher Open Pairs (1) 1983
 * Blue Ribbon Pairs (1) 1975
 * Vanderbilt (4) 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980
 * Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1984
 * Reisinger (2) 1986, 1992
 * Spingold (1) 1990