Albert J. Okuneff

Mr. Albert J. Okuneff, also known affectionately as Okie, was the originator and developer of the Okuneff conventional method, which later was renamed the Western Cuebid, much to his consternation.

His date of birth is given as September 8, 1926 and the date of his passing is given as October 25, 2002.

The Okuneff Convention stated that a bid in the suit of the opponent asks partner to bid No Trump with a stopper in the suit of the opponent, or bid the cheapest unbid suit with a partial stopper.

The renaming of his conventional method did not seem to sit well with Mr. Albert J. Okuneff since he went to his grave still bitter about the omission of his name from recent editions of the Encyclopedia. Source: Human Bridge Errors, published under the pseudonym of Chthonic, of the Orttman Foundation for Scientific Advancement, published January, 2007. The actual authors of the publication are Mr. Danny Kleinman and Mr. Nick Straguzzi.

It is also with some astonishment that the original and correct designation can be found on the WBF Convention Card of Helle Rasmussen and Anita Jensen, both of Denmark, entered under Important Notes That Don’t Fit Elsewhere. The identical designation is also found on the WBF Convention Card of Maria Rahelt and Stense Farholt, also of Denmark. Other, especially European and WBF Convention Cards use this designation and not that of the Western Cuebid.

The Okuneff conventional method became a part of and was incorporated into the Bulldog System.

Mr. Albert J. Okuneff owned and operated the Los Angeles Bridge Club in Los Angeles, California, United States and the bridge club was the spring-board or training grounds for several of the top bridge players in the world. He owned the bridge club for about fifteen years, operating the bridge club from the late 1950s. Several regular bridge players were Eddie Kantar, Bob Hammon, Don Krauss, and others, who continued to play tournament duplicate bridge.

After Mr. Albert J. Okuneff sold the Los Angeles Bridge Club he continued to play bridge, teach bridge, and also teach other card games as well, including gin rummy and pinochle. He died in Los Angeles at his home in Beverly Hills, California, United States.

 

 

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