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About the Author

by Richard Pavlicek

Richard Pavlicek began to play bridge in 1964 at the age of 18 while in West Germany with the U.S. Army. Upon returning to Florida in 1966 he played bridge tournaments in his spare time, and since then has won over 500 events and about 20,000 masterpoints. He is a Grand Life Master, the highest rank in the American Contract Bridge League.

Mr. Pavlicek has won 11 North American championships, most recently in 2004 when he and his son Rich became the first father-son to win the Life Master Pairs. From 1982-84 Richard set a record by winning three straight Reisinger Cups, and in 1990 his team won it again with a thrilling come-from-behind finish. He won the prestigious Vanderbilt Cup in 1983, 1986 and 1995; and the Grand National Teams 1973 and 1997 — an interesting sidelight being that one of his 1973 teammates was Billy Seamon, and in 1997 his partner was Billy’s son Michael. He also won the N.A. Open Teams in 1990.

Richard began teaching bridge in 1972, and soon formed the Pavlicek School of Bridge. He and his devoted wife Mabel (married 1969) taught thousands of students each year, many of whom became steady winners, and some won national titles. In 2006 Richard retired from tournament play and teaching to care for Mabel, who was afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. In 2015 he lost his beloved to God’s hands.

Mr. Pavlicek is the author of a variety of bridge textbooks and lesson material, and is noted for his practical, organized approach. He is highly respected as a hand analyst, and from 1987-2006 wrote the booklets for the continent-wide ACBL Instant Matchpoint games. Richard is also well-known as a composer of problems, puzzles and other novelties. He is co-author of the acclaimed “Modern Bridge Conventions.”

Since 1993 Richard has maintained a web site “For Bridge Players” (rpbridge.net) which many consider to be the best on the net. There you will find lots of complimentary material, such as quizzes, polls, contests, lessons, articles, humor, puzzles, systems, calculators, and much more. Stop by and check it out! You won’t be disappointed.

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