[mike777]

Greatest Underrated player since 1950?

To get this topic started I will throw out a name:

Bobby Wolff

Please define greatest underrated player as you see fit.

[the hog]

A few names come to mind -
Patrick Huang, Eddy Manoppo, Meyer Schleiffer

I am using underrated here as unknown to the vast majority.

[TimG]

How about Ralph Katz?

[dogsbreath]

Barry Bonds?

[fred]

TimG, on Feb 27 2005, 07:23 PM, said:

How about Ralph Katz?

Good pick.

Ralph has a remarkable tournament record and he is always near the top of the "player of the year" race (which is by far the most significant list of masterpoint winners that the ACBL compiles).

For some reason Ralph's name is rarely mentioned when people talk about the best American players.

I have extensive experience playing against Ralph and I have had the good fortune to have been his partner a couple of times. He is truly a great player and, in my view, deserves a lot more recognition than he receives.

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com

[Walddk]

mike777, on Feb 26 2005, 01:00 AM, said:

Please define greatest underrated player as you see fit.

Tor Helness of Norway.

He has been living in the shadow of his partner, Geir Helgemo, for many years, but in my opinion Tor is just as good as Geir. Maybe not as spectacular, maybe he doesn't make it to the papers as often, but that is not the yardstick of how good you really are.

I am happy to see that Tor Helness turned professional a few months ago. We will therefore get to see him in action more often in the future. I am delighted; not only is he a great person at and away from the table, he is also a very fine player with a delicate technique.

Roland

[fred]

Walddk, on Feb 27 2005, 10:59 PM, said:

mike777, on Feb 26 2005, 01:00 AM, said:

Please define greatest underrated player as you see fit.

Tor Helness of Norway.

He has been living in the shadow of his partner, Geir Helgemo, for many years, but in my opinion Tor is just as good as Geir. Maybe not as spectacular, maybe he doesn't make it to the papers as often, but that is not the yardstick of how good you really are.

I am happy to see that Tor Helness turned professional a few months ago. We will therefore get to see him in action more often in the future. I am delighted; not only is he a great person at and away from the table, he is also a very fine player with a delicate technique.

Roland

Also agree with everything in Roland's post. Tor is one of the very best and he generally does not get the credit he deserves. I don't know him that well but he has always struck me as being a perfect gentleman both at and away from the table.

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com

[shoeless]

Someone who comes to mind is Kerri Shuman - think you might have to be superwoman to play with the MP machine

[slothy]

there is a woman called Elma at our club who consistently scores <37% during night-games

Other nite she scored 66% - definitely underrated...she wanted 4 print-outs to ensure there wasnt a mechanical fault with the printer

I think there are many 'underrated' players around...ones who are naturally talented bridge players (or even card players yet havent perfected their bidding) yet because of other commitments, whether it be family, business or other obsessions, havent been cameoed in the bridge flood-lights. They play occasionally in big events and more often than not score well but when they are off-color get judged by these results.

[keylime]

Helness is a great choice, wow.....

My inclination though gotta be Curtis Cheek. One of the nicest men I've ever met; a man of honor, kindness, and always a smile in Huntsville, AL (when he was home). I was very happy when he finally won his long-sought NABC, and thus got his Grand Life Master.

[farfie]

Michel Perron, who was Paul Chemla's part for several years...everybody know Paul Chemla and few know Michel Perron , a great player..

[jdulmage]

Fred Gitelman

[fred]

jdulmage, on Mar 7 2005, 04:05 AM, said:

Fred Gitelman

Wrong on that one. My perception is that, if anything, I am overrated in some circles (notably BBO circles).

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com

[flytoox]

Fred, what do you think of China's Zhuang Zejun (or Zejun Zhuang)? I think he is a top player. Not many players outside China know him it seems.

[fred]

flytoox, on Mar 7 2005, 11:01 PM, said:

Fred, what do you think of China's Zhuang Zejun (or Zejun Zhuang)? I think he is a top player. Not many players outside China know him it seems.

Sorry if this sounds horrible, but I am not very good with Chinese names (or names in general for that matter). I have played against most of China's leading players several times and recognize their names when I see them in print, but other than "Fu", I don't know which name represents which player.

In my experience I have found all of players on China's national teams to be fine players, but none of them has struck me as being a "superstar" (that is, one of the top 10 or so players in the world). The Chinese players do tend to keep a low profile so if there is a superstar among them it is entirely possible that the rest of the world hasn't figured it out yet.

I am very much looking forward to playing in a tournament in China in April. I have played bridge in China 3 times during the past 10 years and I have always enjoyed visiting that country. The Chinese Bridge Federation is certainly one of the world's leading organizations when it comes to running high-quality events.

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com

[GijsH]

OK, let me throw one in: Piet Borst!
Outside Holland not many people know him, but all Dutch players know Pietje.
Why he is not known abroad? Piet is afraid of flying.
He is getting on now, but in his heydays he was the best declarer in the game and even faster then that well known Dutchman and world champion: Hans Kreijns.
Some 30 years ago I was declaring a hand at my club and Pietje was standing behind me. After I bungled up the hand Piet asked me in a serious voice: "do you like playing bridge?". I said yes of course and then he says: "why don't you learn how to play it then?".

[spwdo]

GijsH, on Mar 8 2005, 09:15 AM, said:

Piet is afraid of flying.

"do you like playing bridge?". I said yes of course and then he says: "why don't you learn how to play it then?".

Not the nicest thing to say huh

p.s He related to Dennis Bergkamp?