Terence Reese

Terence Reese (1913-1996) is regarded as one of the finest bridge players of all time, and also as one of the most influential and ascerbic of bridge writers with a large output including several books which remain in print as classics of bridge play.

He was one of the designers of the Acol bidding system (named after the Acol Bridge Club in north London) which has become the prevailing bidding system in Britain and many parts of the world.

He played many times for England in the Bermuda Bowl, but his final appearance was marred by accusations that he and his partner Boris Schapiro were communicating illegally - in fact cheating. The outcome of an enquiry was not clear, and Reese wrote a book Portrait of an Accusation about the affair. He did not play international bridge again, but his career as a bridge writer continued unabated.

In his later years Reese played little competitive bridge, enjoying Backgammon as an alternative.