North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
A 9 8 7 4
K 9 5 3
3 2
K 2
WEST EAST
Void J 10 5
A J 7 Q 8 6 4 2
A K Q J 9 8 7 6 5 4
J 5 Q 4 3
SOUTH
K Q 6 3 2
10
10
A 10 9 8 7 6
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
Pass 1 1 Pass
1NT! Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Jack of
Zia Mahmood, a Pakistani now resident in London and New York, would rank high on anyone's list of the world's best players, and probably first on a list of the most imaginative and charismatic. He is a difficult man to play against, since he will seize any opportunity to sow doubt in the minds of his opponents. But that can backfire as this deal from the recent Spring North American Championships testifies, as the chief perpetrator confessed.
If the auction seems unusual we will try to explain. There are those of us who would open the South hand, but we won't quibble with a pass especially since that would spoil a wonderful story. The one-diamond opening bid and the one-spade overcall, followed by East's pass, were all normal, and you or we would probably have settled for a jump to four spades with the South cards. However, Zia elected to roil the waters with a bid of one no trump, hoping to get doubled in some number of spades somewhere along the line. It succeeded beyond his wildest expectations -- everyone passed!
West led a fourth-best diamond -- under some circumstances the recommended lead. It puzzled declarer for the moment, but only until West remarked: "This is one you won't make." Nine tricks later, and -300 for a bottom score, Zia was left to contemplate on the unfairness of it all!
& copy;2006 Tribune Media Services
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