Helgemo Displays His Skills In Bermuda Bowl Match
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday November 19, 2001
Geir Helgemo, a Norwegian in his early thirties, is already regarded as one of the leading players in the world. This deal from a match at the Paris Bermuda Bowl between Norway and Poland gave an opportunity for him to display his talents:
Final contract : 4H by South (no opposition bidding)
Opening lead: C2
After a long auction, South arrived in four hearts, pausing momentarily at three no-trumps, a contract that would not have taxed his skills once the clubs broke. Looking at all four hands, the risk in four hearts of declarer losing three tricks in trumps and one in diamonds is very real. Declarer won the club lead with dummy's ace and played a diamond to his king and West's ace. West exited with a club, won by dummy's king and the queen of clubs was next, ruffed by East and overruffed. A diamond was ruffed, followed by a spade to the ace and declarer's last diamond was ruffed. The king of spades was cashed to reach this five-card ending, with declarer needing three more tricks for game and the lead in dummy:
A spade was led, ruffed low by declarer and overruffed. West returned a diamond, which declarer ruffed. The next card was the heart
8 and West was skewered. Forced to win and lead a trump to declarer's tenace, the game was made. At the other table, the Polish North played in five clubs, down two, for a swing of 13 imps to Norway. The match was won by Poland.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald