The start of the 4th Generali Masters wasn't very good for the winner of the Third Generali, Geir Helgemo. In fact on the first two boards of the tournament, he went down ten tricks ! And, more to the point, he scored two complete zeros against his adversaries who scored 48 points: 24 (top) + 24 (top). However, he does not have too much to reproach himself about.

Just look at the hands enjoyed by the spectators on Vugraph …

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All K Q 7 6 9 — A K Q J 10 6 3 2 J 10 9 2 4 3 A Q J 8 5 4 10 7 6 3 2 Q 9 J 10 7 6 4 4 8 A 8 5 K A K 8 5 3 2 9 7 5 West North East South Quantin Sharif Helgemo Allegaert 1 Pass 1 1 2 4 5NT Pass 7 Pass Pass 7 Dble All Pass

Apparently 5NT was taken for a Grand Slam force by Omar Sharif, while Allegaert meant to say only "pick a slam" in clubs or diamonds. Quantin, convinced that there was a heart void in one of the opponent's hands took out insurance (the sponsor of this tournament - isn't he a specialist in insurance?). Alas for him, it was a phantom sacrifice.

Omar Sharif led the 7. Allegaert took the ace and followed this with the ace and king of diamonds. On the ace, Sharif played the 2. A third diamond was played by South. If he had ruffed with the queen of hearts, Quantin would go four down, but he dropped the 4. Five down, 1100 for North/South and 24/24.

The second hand was another unhappy one for East/West:

Board 2. Dealer East. NS Game 7 5 2 Q 10 5 3 9 7 6 5 K 2 K J 8 A Q 3 J 6 9 4 2 Q A 8 4 2 A Q 10 9 7 6 4 8 5 3 10 9 6 4 A K 8 7 K J 10 3 J West North East South Quantin Sharif Helgemo Allegaert Pass 1 2 Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

South led the ace of hearts and followed this with the king of diamonds. Helgemo took the ace, cashed three spades and tried the club finesse. Five down again and another 24/24 for North/South.

There are some moments where bridge is really "trés sévère".

Ernesto d'Orsi continues:

While the defending Champions of the Generali Masters went a total of 10 down on the first two boards, at table 13 the fortunes went the other way … on board 1 the bidding went:

West North East South Perron Shivdasani Morse Chagas 1 Pass 1 2 2 5 5NT Pass 7 All Pass

Chagas bid 5NT because he could no longer ask for aces with 4NT. 5NT (at that level) would be Blackwood. Apparently Shivdasani still thought that 5NT was GSF and with his 8-card solid suit bid 7. Morse simply led the suit partner had bid for one down.

On board two the bidding went:

West North East South Perron Shivdasani Morse Chagas Pass 1 2 2 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Chagas led the K and after seeing the two from his partner switched to the K. Morse took the ace, finessed the Q and when the smoke cleared he was four down, losing four hearts, three diamonds and one club.