Geir Helgemo ‘Possibly’ or ‘probably’ the best?

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Reno 1998

Geir Helgemo ‘Possibly’ or ‘probably’ the best?     

Geir Helgemo is earning a reputation as “possibly” the greatest player in the world. Look at these two deals from the Vanderbilt quarterfinal and see if you think “possibly” should read “probably.” Helgemo held:

 K 10 8 5  K 6  K Q 9 7 3  4 3

and heard his left-hand opponent open 1, pass by partner, 1 by right-hand opponent. Helegemo doubled. LHO redoubled, showing a strong notrump. Partner and RHO passed, and Helegemo bid 1. LHO rebid 2, partner passed again and RHO bid 2NT, passed out. This was the full deal:

Dlr: North Vul: N-Saaxxand the complete auction:aaxx

(1) Martel and Stansby play weak notrumps.

(2) Shows a strong notrump.

Helgemo led the K and continued with the queen. Martel could take his ace when he liked. When Forrester gained the lead in clubs, he shifted to a spade, as suggested by Helgemo. Now Helgemo could wait for his 10 to come up and cash out diamonds for down one.

At the other table:aaxx

Goldman led the 8 to Soloway’s king and Robson’s ace. A club toward dummy’s queen lost to Goldman’s king and he shifted to the 9. Dummy’s Q was allowed to hold and Robson led a second spade to his ace. Now he cashed the A, pitching a diamond from dummy. The 10 went to Goldman’s jack. Robson claimed nine tricks for plus 600 and a 12-IMP pickup.

A few deals later, Helgemo held:

   K Q 9 8 7 3  Q 10 6  9 7 4

Helgemo chose to pass, reasoning that a heart preempt would help declarer locate spades and other holdings. This was the auction:aaxx(1) Strong 4 bid

(2) Two keycards, no club control

(3) All keycards and the Q

(4) Still interested, some “bits and pieces”

Helgemo led the K.

This was the complete deal:aaxx

With the K lead and the 4-0 spade break, declarer finished down two for minus 200.

At the other table:aaxx

4 made four for plus 620 and a 13-IMP gain.