Helgemo mixes charm, craft<\/p>\n
By Djanwar R. Madjolelo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In the course of the last 18 months Geir Helgemo
\nhas won the World Junior Pairs (with Boye Borgeland), the Cap
\nVolmac Pairs (with Tor Helness) and the General World Men's
\nIndividual.<\/p>\n
In addition he has put together a good string of results in
\nthe U.S. Nationals (notably in Miami) and represented Norway in
\nthe Rhodes Olympics. He and Tor Helness (who finished second in
\nthe Santiago Bermuda Bowl 1993) are undoubtedly one of the
\nstrongest pairs in the world.<\/p>\n
But Geir has also impressed everyone as a pleasant opponent
\nand a cheerful companion. He has given two excellent interviews,
\nto ACBL in Miami and to The European Bridge League News, which
\nwill make good copy and he has provided journalists with many
\nhands to indicate what a fine player he is.<\/p>\n
Here is a nice defense by Helgemo taken from the recent
\nOlympiad in Rhodes, Greece:<\/p>\n
Dealer: West
\n Game: All<\/p>\n
NORTH<\/p>\n
(S) Q<\/p>\n
(H) A 10 9 4 3<\/p>\n
(D) A K 5 4 3 2<\/p>\n
(C) A<\/p>\n
WEST EAST<\/p>\n
(S) 8 3 (S) A J 9 5 3<\/p>\n
(H) K 8 7 6 5 (H) J<\/p>\n
(D) J 10 9 6 (D) Q 7<\/p>\n
(C) 9 3 (C) K J 10 8 2<\/p>\n
SOUTH<\/p>\n
(S) K 10 7 6 4<\/p>\n
(H) Q 7<\/p>\n
(D) 8<\/p>\n
(C) Q 7 6 5 4<\/p>\n
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
\n Helgemo Helness
\n Pass 1D 1S Pass
\n Pass 2H Pass 3NT
\n All Pass<\/p>\n
Geir Helgemo led the Spade 8 to the Queen and Ace. East played
\nthe Club 2 (showing strength) to North's Ace who then followed
\nwith the Ace, King and another Diamond to Geir Helgemo's 10.<\/p>\n
Now put yourself in West's chair and imagine that you are in.
\nYou probably feel like switching to a small Heart, don't you?<\/p>\n
Let's enter Geir's mind for a second and this is what makes
\nhim such an outstanding player.<\/p>\n
He knew that East had a Club honor, but it would make a
\ndifference whether it was the King or Queen. Suppose South held
\nboth the black Kings. A small Heart would then bring South in on
\nthe Queen. He then could cash both his black Kings, play a Heart
\nto the 10 and exit with another Diamond. And, oops, West is left
\nendplayed. Left with only a Heart and South will have won his
\ncontract.<\/p>\n
Now, this was not the layout of the hand, so in this case it
\nwould have been sufficient to play a small Heart. But Geir
\nHelgemo, of course, did not know that, and so, in case South had
\nboth the black Kings, he played the King of Hearts! This not only
\nbrings dummy in early, it also lays the foundation to take the
\ncontract two down, instead of one which will happen if you play a
\nsmall Heart.<\/p>\n
Honestly, would you have been able to think along theses lines
\nwhen defending with Helgemo's slightly anemic West hand?<\/p>\n
There is only one that describes it: Outstanding!<\/p>\n
The writer is the 1966 winner of the International Bridge Press
\nAssociation (IBPA) Award<\/p>",
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"image": ""
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