North-South vulnerable. North deals.

North-South vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA 8 5

uK Q 10

v10 4 2

w10 7 6 4

WEST EAST

xK J 6 2 xQ 9 4

u3 uJ 8 7 6

vK J 5 3 v9 8 7 6

wJ 9 8 5 wA 2

SOUTH

x10 7 3

uA 9 5 4 2

vA Q

wK Q 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass Pass 1u Dbl

2u 2x! 3u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of x

Zia Mahmood, the peripatetic Pakistani who spends most of his time in New York, is one of the world’s most imaginative players. Here’s an example of his style from the recent Summer North American Championships in Las Vegas.

Most would open the South hand with one no trump, which would have resulted in a makable two-no-trump contract. South’s choice of one heart and West’s distributionally impeccable light takeout double encouraged Zia to bid his three-card spade fragment. That paid an extra dividend when it prompted West to make the winning lead. Note that a minor-suit lead would have made declarer’s life easier.

The spade opening lead was ducked in dummy and East’s queen won. The spade continuation was taken with the ace and then came a club to the king. When that won, declarer crossed to dummy with a trump to lead another club, taken by the ace. A spade to partner’s jack was followed by a club ruff. East exited with the nine of diamonds. Declarer finessed the queen, losing to the king. Down one, giving East-West 19.5 of 25 matchpoints.

To save a spate of emails: We know declarer could have made three hearts. But give declarer a chance to go wrong, and you will often succeed!

2008 Tribune Media Services