The three way finesse

The three way finesse

By Djanwar Madjolelo

JAKARTA (JP): Geir Helgemo, the World Individual Champion, arrived at the Hague direct from Dallas, where he had been competing in the ACBL National.

He left to catch his flight when his team in the Open Swiss was leading with four matches to play.

Helgemo partnered Edgar Kaplan, whose ill-health now puts him in a wheel chair, but whose bridge is as sound as ever.

With Kaplan watching as dummy, the Norwegian was pleased to find the remarkable finesse position on this deal:

Dealer: West

Game : All

NORTH

(S) 9 7 3

(H) 9 7 6 2

(D) K 10 8 6

(C) 9 7

WEST EAST

(S) 8 4 (S) Q J 10 5

(H) K Q J 8 4 (H) A 10 5 3

(D) 5 (D) 3

(C) K 10 7 5 3 (C) Q J 6 4

SOUTH

(S) A K 6 2

(H) void

(D) A Q J 9 7 4 2

(C) A 8

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Kaplan Helgemo

2 H Pass 4H 6D

All pass

West led the King of Hearts against Helgemo's bold Six Diamonds call. South ruffed, drew trumps with the Ace and led a low Spade. When West played the four, Helgemo put in seven. East won with the Jack and returned the five.

Helgemo ran this to dummy's nine to make his slam.

Of course, if East had exited with a Heart Helgemo had ample entries to dummy to lead the nine.

East may cover, but Declarer wins, dropping West's eight, and goes back to dummy for a finesse of the six.

The first remarkable thing about this suit combination is that it involves three finesses in the same suit, one through West and two through East.

It is an extension of the intra-finesse first named by Gabriel Chagas (Brazil).

Helgemo decided that West was more likely to have ten cards in Hearts and Clubs than nine.

If so, Spades would be 2-4. So the defense has to persuade him that West's holding is honor-eight doubleton.

The best play is for West to put up the eight and East win the ten.

The declarer might well go wrong in the next round, hoping to drop an honor from West and finesse on the next round.

Fortunately, the opponents did not play that well, and Helgemo scored his slam.