Richard Pavlicek
Encyclopedia
Richard Pavlicek is an American
bridge
player, author and columnist.
, West Germany
, with the U.S. Army
. Upon returning to Florida
in 1966 he started to play in bridge tournaments in his spare time. Since then he has won over 400 events and accumulated more than 16,000 masterpoints
. He is a Grand Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League
(ACBL) and World International Master of the World Bridge Federation
(WBF).
Pavlicek has won 11 North American Bridge Championships
, including a record-setting three straight wins in the Reisinger Board-a-Match Teams
, 1982–84. In 1990, his team mounted a come-from-behind finish to win it again. He won the prestigious Vanderbilt Trophy
in 1983, 1986 and most recently in 1995 playing with a team that was arranged the day before the event. He won the Grand National Team Championship
in 1973 (its inaugural year) and again in 1997 — an interesting sidelight is that in 1973 one of Pavlicek's teammates was Billy Seamon, and in 1997 he played with Billy’s son, Michael. His most recent national win was in 2004 when he and his son, Rich, became the first father-son combination to win the Life Master Open Pairs
.
Richard Pavlicek is the author of a variety of bridge textbooks and lesson material. He is co-author of Modern Bridge Conventions, published in 1981 and still a popular best-seller in the bridge marketplace, with William S. Root
.
Pavlicek is also a bridge columnist and composer of bridge puzzles, double-dummy problems and other novelties, which have appeared in a variety of publications. Since 1987, he has written the analysis booklet for the continent-wide “Instant Matchpoint” games of the American Contract Bridge League.
Since 2000, Pavlicek has conducted monthly bidding polls and play contests through his website, with thousands of regular participants from over 90 countries.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
player, author and columnist.
Career
Pavlicek began to play bridge in 1964 at the age of 18 while stationed in StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, with the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Upon returning to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1966 he started to play in bridge tournaments in his spare time. Since then he has won over 400 events and accumulated more than 16,000 masterpoints
Masterpoints
Masterpoints or master points are points awarded by national and other bridge organisations for success in bridge tournaments run under their auspices. Organisations which issue these points include the American Contract Bridge League , the American Bridge Association, the English Bridge Union ,...
. He is a Grand Life Master of the American Contract Bridge League
American Contract Bridge League
The American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
(ACBL) and World International Master of the World Bridge Federation
World Bridge Federation
The World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competition, most of which is conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle...
(WBF).
Pavlicek has won 11 North American Bridge Championships
North American Bridge Championships
North American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
, including a record-setting three straight wins in the Reisinger Board-a-Match Teams
Reisinger
The Reisinger national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Reisinger is a board-a-match event.-History:...
, 1982–84. In 1990, his team mounted a come-from-behind finish to win it again. He won the prestigious Vanderbilt Trophy
Vanderbilt Trophy
The trophy is awarded for the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams national bridge championship held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
in 1983, 1986 and most recently in 1995 playing with a team that was arranged the day before the event. He won the Grand National Team Championship
Grand National Teams
The Grand National Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
in 1973 (its inaugural year) and again in 1997 — an interesting sidelight is that in 1973 one of Pavlicek's teammates was Billy Seamon, and in 1997 he played with Billy’s son, Michael. His most recent national win was in 2004 when he and his son, Rich, became the first father-son combination to win the Life Master Open Pairs
Nail Life Master Open Pairs
The Nail Life Master Open Pairs national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
.
Richard Pavlicek is the author of a variety of bridge textbooks and lesson material. He is co-author of Modern Bridge Conventions, published in 1981 and still a popular best-seller in the bridge marketplace, with William S. Root
William S. Root
William S. Root was a professional American bridge player. He represented the United States twelve times in international competition, including the Bermuda Bowl in 1967...
.
Pavlicek is also a bridge columnist and composer of bridge puzzles, double-dummy problems and other novelties, which have appeared in a variety of publications. Since 1987, he has written the analysis booklet for the continent-wide “Instant Matchpoint” games of the American Contract Bridge League.
Since 2000, Pavlicek has conducted monthly bidding polls and play contests through his website, with thousands of regular participants from over 90 countries.
Personal
Richard and his wife of 40 years, Mabel, are not only a partnership in life but also in bridge teaching. Together, as the Pavlicek School of Bridge, they have taught thousands of students in South Florida, some of whom won national titles. In 2006, Richard retired from teaching to be with his wife, who is suffering from Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.
Wins
- North American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
(11)- VanderbiltVanderbilt TrophyThe trophy is awarded for the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams national bridge championship held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(3) 1983, 1986, 1995 - ReisingerReisingerThe Reisinger national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Reisinger is a board-a-match event.-History:...
(4) 1982, 1983, 1984, 1990 - Grand National TeamsGrand National TeamsThe Grand National Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(2) 1973, 1997 - Jacoby Open Swiss TeamsJacoby Open Swiss TeamsThe Jacoby Open Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 1992 - Life Master Open PairsNail Life Master Open PairsThe Nail Life Master Open Pairs national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 2004
- Vanderbilt
Runner-ups
- North American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
(7)- VanderbiltVanderbilt TrophyThe trophy is awarded for the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams national bridge championship held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 2003 - SpingoldSpingoldThe Spingold national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 1978 - Grand National TeamsGrand National TeamsThe Grand National Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 1992 - North American Men's Swiss TeamsJacoby Open Swiss TeamsThe Jacoby Open Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 1984 - Life Master PairsVon Zedtwitz Life Master PairsThe Von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(2) 1995, 1998 - North American PairsNorth American PairsThe North American Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 1982
- Vanderbilt
- United States Bridge Championships (3)
- Open Team Trials (3) 1984, 1987, 1992