Goren on Bridge

Today’s deal is from a team match in Europe some years ago. South was the great Norwegian player, Geir Helgemo. The record doesn’t say so, but it’s likely North-South were playing a strong club system, hence the one diamond opening bid. We also don’t know why North didn’t correct to four hearts over three no-trump, as most would. Perhaps he was under strict orders from Helgemo not to take him out of any three no-trump contracts.

Helgemo put up dummy’s jack of spades to win the first trick and ran the jack of clubs to West’s king. West needed to find his partner with an entry in order to lead a spade back to him, and the only possibility was the queen of hearts. West led a low heart and South was on the spot. It seems routine to play low from dummy, as the contract will easily make whenever West has the queen of hearts. Helgemo, however, rose with dummy’s king of hearts and speared East’s singleton queen. Helgemo quickly knocked out the ace of hearts and claimed 10 tricks.

Sometimes, great players make great plays, and we can only hope someone is there to ask them why. The record is silent on this one. We plan to ask him when next we see him, and we’re sure he’ll remember the hand. He played it just 16 years ago. Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. Email responses may be sent to tcaeditors@tribune.com. © 2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.