Having disqualified myself from the Open Pairs. I decided to kibitz Zia/Hamman who had moved up in the semifinals. It was a good decision - there being no partner to misguide me.

Board 1. Dealer North. Love All ª 8 7 2 © A 10 6 ¨ Q J 10 8 § J 9 6 ª K Q 5 ª A 9 6 4 © K J 7 5 3 2 © Q 9 8 ¨ K 5 ¨ A 7 6 4 2 § 7 5 § 10 ª J 10 3 © 4 ¨ 9 3 § A K Q 8 4 3 2 West North East South Hamman Zia Pass Pass 1NT 2¨(1) Dble 2© Pass Pass 2NT 3©(2) All Pass (1) Transfer (2) Took time for divine guidance but none came

East took eleven tricks in a matter of seconds for a cold bottom.

Board 2. Dealer East. NS Game ª K 2 © J 9 4 3 ¨ K 9 7 3 § A Q 10 ª Q J 6 4 ª 8 7 5 3 © K © 8 7 6 2 ¨ A Q 6 5 ¨ 10 2 § J 7 4 3 § K 6 2 ª A 10 9 © A Q 10 5 ¨ J 8 4 § 9 8 5 West North East South Hamman Zia Pass Pass 1¨ Pass Pass 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Lead: ª4

There were a lot of bidding constraints on this hand for North/South. Zia hates to pass with 11 points or "less" and Hamman had no convenient rebid after the 1NT response by East. Zia balanced with 1NT, considering a double, even with a heart fit, would make North the declarer and weaken his major suit holdings. 2NT by partner and 3NT was irresistible, again avoiding a heart contract.

The lead had to be reckoned with. After a long time - I have never seen Zia take that much time over the first trick - and after a lot of questions about lead style, Zia played small from the dummy. On a club, dummy played the 10n and East took the king and put a spade on the table. A heart to the ace dropped the king and the rest was easy - 10 tricks and 630 was a clear top, with a lot of 620s on the travelling scoresheet.

Board 5. Dealer North. NS Game ª K 8 3 © 4 2 ¨ K 9 8 § Q 10 7 6 3 ª Q 10 6 4 ª A J 9 7 2 © A K 9 5 © 8 7 6 3 ¨ - ¨ 6 3 § A J 5 4 2 § K 9 ª 5 © Q J 10 ¨ A Q J 10 7 5 4 2 § 8 West North East South Hamman Zia Pass Pass 4¨ Dble 5¨ Dble All Pass

The play was easy - Zia lost four tricks for -500.

Hamman's evaluation was correct in going to 5¨ because East/West are cold for 6ª.

However, we will never know if East/West would have reached it if North had passed, since when the hand reached this table not a single pair had bid the slam. Minus 500 was a bad score for Zia/Hamman.