Home Page

Alvin  LANDY

Alvin Landy nacque a Cleveland nell'Ohio nel 1905 e si laureò alla Western Reserve University, esercitando la professione forense fino al 1943, anno dal quale si cominciò a dedicare a tempo pieno al bridge.

 La sua azione si esplicò prevalentemente nella Direzione dei tornei e culminò con la nomina a executive manager in seno all'A.C.B.L.,  avvenuta nel 1952, carica che lascerà solo a causa della sua morte improvvisa, avvenuta per un attacco di cuore nel 1967 mentre si trovava ad Atlantic City.

 Dal 1956 ricoprì anche la carica di segretario dell'ACBL Law Commission e fu uno dei fondatori  dell'ACBL Charity Foundation alla quale  non fece mancare il suo generoso sostegno, infine, recitò un ruolo chiave anche nella fondazione della World Bridge Federation della quale fu  tesoriere dal 1958 al 1966.

 Come giocatore Landy si limitò a collezionare molti lusinghieri risultati nelle principali competizioni nazionali, tra i quali ricordiamo la vittoria  di una Reisinger (1936)  Spingold (1949) e di 4 Mitchell (1947, 48, 54, 58)

 Il suo nome è ricordato ancora oggi dai bridgisti di tutto il mondo a causa della sua idea di introdurre una convenzione di intervento  sull'apertura di 1SA forte degli avversari (la 2 Landy).

La ACBL gli ha concesso l'onore di far parte della Hall of Fame nel 1998 e lo ricorda con l'Alvin Landy Trophy che, ogni anno, premia il giocatore Junior che ha guadagnato il maggior numero di Master Point .

Taken from the Hall of Fame

Alvin Landy was Life Master #24 and a longtime ACBL chief executive. A Cleveland native, Landy was a graduate of Western Reserve University. He also earned a law degree from the school in 1927. He practiced law in Cleveland until 1943, when he served in the Army Transport Command during World War II.

Landy joined the ACBL as a tournament director in 1948. He had previously worked as a free-lance director for years and was referred to as a "national director" long before the position of a salaried national TD actually existed.

In 1951, Landy was named acting business manager of ACBL, when his predecessor, Russell Baldwin, was called for active duty during the Korean War. Landy, who was in charge of the day-to-day business of ACBL, worked with the legendary Al Sobel, who was named tournament manager in the same year. An article that appeared in a 1951 Bulletin noted that, "These top-flight national directors will continue to conduct tournaments despite their added responsibilities."

In December 1952, Landy was named executive manager of the ACBL. He remained in that capacity until his unexpected death from a heart attack in 1967 at the age of 62.

Landy’s 16-year tenure as the top executive for the ACBL was marked by rapid growth in the membership and a stable administration. Landy was named ACBL Honorary Member of the Year in 1957.

In addition to these contributions, Landy served as secretary of the ACBL Charity Foundation from the time of its inception and was also a principal figure in its creation. Through his efforts, the Foundation grew to a $250,000 annual project by 1967.

Landy served as Secretary of the ACBL Laws Commission from 1956 until his death. He was also active in the World Bridge Federation. Landy was one of its founders and first officers, serving as secretary-treasurer from 1958 to 1966.

As a player, Landy was widely recognized for his skill and expert play. He won several major events. His first was the American Bridge League’s Knockout Team Challenge in 1936. He later scored four wins in the Fall NABC Men’s Teams, a record.

Landy was a member of the winning Spingold Knockout Team in 1949, playing with teammates Jeff Glick, Arthur Goldsmith, Bruce Gowdy and Sol Mogal. He was second in the event twice.

Landy was also the originator of the convention that bears his name: a 2*C* overcall of an opposing 1NT bid to request that partner bid a major. In fact, many bridge players are most familiar with the name of Landy because of this simple and effective two-suited overcall.