Helen Sobel Smith

Helen Sobel Smith[1] (1910 – September 11, 1969) was an American bridge player. She is said to have been the "greatest woman bridge player of all time".[2] She won 35 North American Bridge Championships, and was the first woman to play in the Bermuda Bowl. She was a long-time partner of Charles Goren.

In a tribute former editor and publisher of The Bridge World Edgar Kaplan said:

"Helen's style was frisky and aggressive – so aggressive that some of her male partners were intimidated. These guys felt they were playing in the Mixed Pairs and... they were the girl!"
"In my lifetime --- said Edgar Kaplan, "she is the only woman bridge player who was considered the best player in the world. She knows how to play a hand."

Contents

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Helen was a chorus girl in her youth. She appeared in several stage shows, the best known being Animal Crackers with the Marx Brothers. Another chorus girl taught her bridge: she took to the game like a duck to water. From that moment on, there was no doubt about her future.

Anecdote

Once Helen Sobel wearied of a female kibitzer who was all but sitting in Partner Goren's lap. When the woman asked Sobel, in the middle of a hand, 'How does it feel to play with an expert?' the best female player in bridge pointed to Goren and said: 'I don't know. Ask him.' "
—Jack Olsen, Sports Illustrated[3]

Death

Helen Sobel Smith died in a Detroit hospital at the age of 59 after a long battle with cancer. The Bulletin remembered her as a player "without a peer among women and very few peers among men. Helen played like a man, it was true. But she also played like a lady."

Bridge accomplishments

Honors

ACBL Hall of Fame 1995

Awards

Wins

Runner-ups

References

  1. ^ The ACBL Official Encyclopedia of Bridge lists her as Helen Martin Smith (Mrs Stanley, formerly Mrs. Al Sobel and Mrs. Jack White), and the ACBL Hall of Fame lists her as Helen Sobel-Smith; in practice she was universally known as Helen Sobel.
  2. ^ Francis, Henry G., Editor-in-Chief; Truscott, Alan F., Executive Editor; Francis, Dorthy A., Editor, Sixth Edition (2001). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (6th ed.). Memphis, TN: American Contract Bridge League. pp. 826 (plus 60 page Bibliography). ISBN 0-943855-44-6. OCLC 49606900.  Page 738.
  3. ^ Olsen, Jack (May 23, 1960), "The Mad World Of Bridge", Sports Illustrated (Time, Inc.) 12 (21), http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1071319/index.htm 

External links