Alan Truscott

Alan Fraser Truscott(16 April 1925 – 4 September 2005) was a British-Americanbridgeplayer, writer, and editor. He wrote the daily bridge column forThe New York Timesfor 41 years, from 1964 to 2005, and served as Executive Editor for the first six editions ofThe Official Encyclopedia of Bridgefrom 1964 to 2002.

Alan and Dorothy Truscott (1998)

Britain

Truscott was born inBrixton,south London, and showed early prowess atchess.He attendedWhitgift Schoolin Croydon and served in theRoyal Navyfor three years around the end ofWorld War II.From 1947, he studied at theUniversity of Oxford,which he represented at both chess and bridge. With Oxford partner Robert d'Unienville, he was on the British team (along withTerence ReeseandBoris Schapiro) that won a bronze medal at the 1951European Bridge Leaguechampionships, age only 26. He represented Britain in the same event twice more, finishing second with partnerMaurice Harrison-Grayin 1958 (again along with Reese–Schapiro) and first with partnerTony Pridayin 1961. He was in charge of organising the 1961 rendition hosted byTorquayin Devonshire, England. As European champions that British team finished third in the 1962Bermuda Bowlheld in New York City. The 1961 European Teams was his only international championship outside the British Isles.

America

According to Maureen Hiron, bridge columnist forThe Independentof London, in New York City "he fell in love with one of the scorers, in particular, and America in general, and decided to cross the Atlantic."

Richard L. Frey,theAmerican Contract Bridge Leaguepublications director, recruited Truscott to help edit the ACBL's membership magazine and itsOfficial Encyclopedia of Bridge,whose first edition was underway. Truscott moved to New York City, then the ACBL headquarters, and succeededAlbert Moreheadas bridge editor ofThe New York Times1 January 1964.Truscott wrote a bridge column forThe New York Timesdaily until March 1994, and then three times a week until April 2005, when he retired due to poor health, for a total of some 12,750 columns.

Frey, Truscott, and the editorial board led by Morehead completed the first edition ofThe Official Encyclopedia of Bridgein 1964. Truscott would be the executive editor of the encyclopedia until his death.

Alan Truscott had three children, Frances, Fraser and Philip, with his first wife, Gloria Gilling. That marriage was dissolved 1971and in 1972 he married the American bridge expert and internationalistDorothy Hayden,born Johnson, a former math teacher and actuary, who had four children from two previous marriages.

Alan Truscott wrote thirteen bridge books, including two with his wife, Dorothy, and one with Phillip Alder. He died of cancer at their vacation home inNew Russia, New York,near Lake Champlain.His widow died the following year.

Buenos Aires affair

AsNew York Timescorrespondent, Truscott covered the 1965 contract bridge world championshipBermuda Bowlin Buenos Aires and became a chief witness in a cheating scandal whereTerence ReeseandBoris Schapiro,representing Europe, were accused of using their fingers to pass information about their cards. The initial accusers were the American partnership ofB. Jay BeckerandDorothy Hayden;the two confided their suspicions to Truscott, a close friend of Hayden's (and later her husband), and toJohn Gerber,then captain of the USA team. After an investigation, Reese and Schapiro were judged guilty by theWorld Bridge Federationauthorities at the tournament in Buenos Aires. TheBritish Bridge League(BBL) convened its own inquiry, and next year judged them not guilty by the "reasonable doubt" standard.

Both Truscott and Reese published books on the affair,The Great Bridge ScandalandThe Story of an Accusation.

Bridge accomplishments

Honors

• ACBL Hall of Fame, Blackwood Award 2001

Winner

• North American Bridge Championships(3)
  • Mixed Pairs (1) 1989
  • Master Mixed Teams (1) 1985
  • North American Swiss Teams (1) 1987
• European Championships (1)
  • Open Teams (1) 1961
• British Championships (2)
  • Masters Individual (2) 1953, 1958

Runners-up

• North American Bridge Championships(2)
  • Master Mixed Teams (1) 1972
  • North American Swiss Teams (1) 1994
• European Championships (1)
  • Open Teams (1) 1958

Publications

• The New York Times articles by Alan Truscott.
• Truscott, Alan (1987).Basic Bridge in Three Weeks.New York: Perigee.ISBN9780399513770.224 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1996).The Bidding Dictionary.Oakland: Lawrence & Leong.272 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (2004).Bridge in Three Weeks.Toronto: Master Point Press.232 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1968).Competitive Bidding.Bridge Tutor. New York: Roin.32 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1968).Defensive Bidding.Bridge Tutor. Roin.32 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1968).No Trump Bidding.Bridge Tutor. Roin.32 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1968).Slam Bidding.Bridge Tutor. Roin.32 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1968).Suit Bidding.Bridge Tutor. Roin.32 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1961).Bridge: Successful Play from First Principles.London: Oldbourne.159 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1959–2001).Contract Bridge.Various publishers.99 to 133 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1969).The Great Bridge Scandal.New York: Yarborough.331 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1970).Improve Your Bridge No. 3.New York: Doop Bridge Supplies.26 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1990).Intermediate Bridge in Three Weeks.New York: Perigee.ISBN9780399516382.224 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1971–1979).Master Bridge by Question and Answer.Various publishers.252 to 260 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1987).The New York Times Bridge Series: Doubles and Redoubles.New York: Times Books.152 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1985).The New York Times Bridge Series: Grand Slams.Times Books.133 pp.
• Truscott, Alan (1970).The New York Times Guide to Practical Bridge.New York: Golden Press.220 pp.
• Truscott, Alan;Truscott, Dorothy(1976–77).Teach Yourself Basic Bidding.Arco Publishing Company.ISBN9780668038362.(New York: Arco Pub. Co., 1996,ISBN0668038365)
• Truscott, Alan; Truscott, Dorothy (2002).The New York Times Bridge Book: an anecdotal history of the development, personalities, and strategies of the world's most popular card game.New York:St. Martin's Press.ISBN0-312-33107-X.ISBN0-312-29090-X(paper).
• Rosenkranz, George;Truscott, Alan (1982).Modern Ideas in Bidding.Louisville, KY: Devyn Press.236 pp.
• Rosenkranz, George; Truscott, Alan (1992).Bidding on Target.Devyn Press.292 pp.
• Truscott, Alan;Morehead, Albert;Alder, Phillip (1990).On Bidding: Albert Morehead's Classic Work on the Principles of Bidding Judgement Revised and Updated.Simon & Schuster.ISBN9780671664633.399 pp.

External links

• Alan Truscottat theACBL Hall of Fame(archived)
• "International record for Alan Fraser Truscott".World Bridge Federation.
• "Master Points record for Alan Truscott".World Bridge Federation.
• Alan TruscottatLibrary of Congress,with 17 library catalog records

Obituaries

• Alder, Phillip."Dorothy Hayden Truscott, 80, Bridge Champion and Author, Is Dead".The New York Times,7 July 2006.
• Hiron, Maureen."Alan Truscott, bridge player and columnist".The Independent,10 September 2005.
• Jourdain, P. D."Alan Truscott (1925–2005)".English Bridge Union.
• Pollak, Michael."Alan Truscott, Times Bridge Editor Since 1964, Dies at 80".The New York Times,5 September 2005.
• "Alan Truscott".The Telegraph,6 September 2005.
• "Alan Truscott".TimesOnline –The Times,9 September 2005.(subscription required)

Games columns about Truscott

Bridge columns featuring Alan Truscott by his successor Phillip Alder:

• Alder, Phillip."Bridge; A Life of Cards Began With a Missed Slam at 15"— biography with Alder's illustration ofrestricted choice,one subject of Truscott's original writings.The New York Times,8 September 2005.
• Alder, Phillip."BRIDGE; Playing in a European Fishbowl To Faintly Heard Applause"— biographical leftovers with one deal played by Truscott.The New York Times,10 September 2005.

Chess column by his fellow Robert Byrne:

• Byrne, Robert."Chess; Wary of 'Hotshot' Youngsters? Then Steer Clear of Radjabov"— friendly remarks by fellow columnist and recreational tennis player, with chess column that does not feature Truscott.The New York Times,18 September 2005.