Not star-struck

	Bobby Levin, USA

Just about everyone knows Zia Mahmood, who is charming and gracious as well as being one of the world’s best players. Meet him in the hall and you might ask for his autograph, but when you sit down at the table against him, you want to win, just as he does.

In the opening round of the World Transnational Open Teams on Monday, a French team encountered Zia at the table, and they had the pleasure of his company and the gratification of a victory. Zia was playing with Robert Levin on the Reese Milner squad. Their opponents were the team captained by Babeth Hugon.

The Milner team scored an IMP on the first deal when Marc Jacobus and Milner played 3NT, making 11 tricks, while Henri Perez and Hugon were in 4© for plus 420.

Two more IMPs went to the Milner team in another overtrick situation. On the third board of the set, Zia and Levin had a chance for a big gain, but it didn’t work out.

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª K J 7 © A 4 2 ¨ 9 8 6 5 3 § 5 4
ª 5 4 © K Q 10 9 ¨ A K J § K Q 9 3		ª Q 3 2 © J 8 6 ¨ Q 10 7 § A 10 7 6
	ª A 10 9 8 6 © 7 5 3 ¨ 4 2 § J 8 2

West	North	East	South
N. Perez	Jacobus	Maurin	Milner
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1§	Pass	1NT	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Nicole Perez and Dominique Maurin landed in a normal contract that just happens to have no play on the lie of the cards. Milner led the ª10 to partner’s king, and the return of the ªJ allowed the defenders to take the first six tricks for two down and plus 200.

West	North	East	South
Zia	Hugon	Levin	H. Perez
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1§	Pass	1NT	Pass
2©	Pass	3§	Pass
3¨	Pass	3©	Pass
4©	Pass	5§	All Pass

	Mahmood Zia, USA

Since North has only three spades, 4© is easy. If the North-South spades were divided 4-4, the defenders against 4© could play three rounds, forcing Zia to ruff, then North could withhold the ©A for two rounds and declarer would be helpless. The contract of 5§, of course, has three top losers, which were collected right away. Hugon led the ª7 to South’s ace, and when she won the heart return, she cashed the ªK for one down. It was still a 3-IMP gain for the Milner team, but it could have been 13.

Milner picked up 6 IMPs on the next deal on a game swing.

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.
	ª A 8 7 6 5 3 2 © 7 2 ¨ 10 6 § 10 9
ª Q 10 © 8 6 5 ¨ 7 5 4 § J 8 7 6 5		ª K 4 © K Q 10 9 ¨ A J 3 2 § K 4 3
	ª J 9 © A J 4 3 ¨ K Q 9 8 § A Q 2

West	North	East	South
Zia	Hugon	Levin	H. Perez
		1NT	2¨
Pass	2ª	All Pass

Perez’s 2¨ showed hearts and a minot. Hugon took 11 tricks when Levin led the ©10 and she inserted the jack. From there, she lost only one spade and the ¨A for plus 200.

West	North	East	South
N. Perez	Jacobus	Maurin	Milner
		1NT	Pass
Pass	2ª	Pass	2NT
Pass	3ª	Pass	4ª
All Pass

Jacobus ducked the opening lead of the ©K, won the second trick with the jack and played the ªA and another spade. He had no difficulty placing the missing high cards, so he ended up with plus 420 and a 6-IMP gain for a lead of 12-0.

Hugon got 5 IMPs back on the following deal.

Board 15. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	ª 9 6 © K 10 5 ¨ A J 5 4 3 § A 7 3
ª 10 8 5 4 3 2 © Q 4 3 ¨ Q 10 8 § 8		ª K Q J 7 © A 8 7 2 ¨ 6 § Q 10 6 4
	ª A © J 9 6 ¨ K 9 7 2 § K J 9 5 2

West	North	East	South
N. Perez	Jacobus	Maurin	Milner
			Pass
Pass	1¨	Pass	2¨
2ª	Pass	4ª	Dble
All Pass

Milner’s pass as dealer with the South cards seems overly conservative. He was able, however, to show his fine passed hand with an inverted raise of his partner’s opener. It was difficult for Jacobus to get too excited about his own hand after the pass, so it’s likely he had no idea there was a game with the North-South cards. 4ª went two down for minus 300, a good score considering North-South can make slam with correct (some would say double-dummy) play.

They did reach game at the other table.

West	North	East	South
Zia	Hugon	Levin	H. Perez
			1§
2ª	3¨	4ª	5¨
Pass	Pass	5ª	Pass
Pass	Dble	All Pass

The defenders collected the same number of tricks, but the level was higher, so Hugon had their first gain of the match.

The match was settled on the next-to-last deal.

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª A J © 8 7 4 ¨ Q J 7 2 § Q 8 5 2
ª 8 7 6 © A 5 2 ¨ K 8 § A J 10 3 2		ª 5 © K Q J 10 9 6 3 ¨ 6 5 4 3 § 9
	ª K Q 10 9 4 3 2 © - ¨ A 10 9 § K 7 4

West	North	East	South
Zia	Hugon	Levin	H. Perez
			1ª
Pass	1NT	3©	4ª
5©	5ª	All Pass

Zia found the only lead to defeat 5ª -- the §A. Levin took his club ruff at trick two and played the ©K. Perez ruffed but he could not avoid the diamond loser, so he was one down for minus 50. Hugon had judged well to bid 5ª, as she found out when comparing scores with her teammates.

West	North	East	South
N. Perez	Jacobus	Maurin	Milner
			1ª
Pass	1NT	3©	3ª
4©	4ª	Pass	Pass
5©	Dble	All Pass

Milner started with the ªK, overtaken by North, who tried another spade, ruffed by Maurin. A diamond went to South’s ace, and another spade was ruffed by East. Now came a diamond to the king, §A, club ruff, diamond ruff, club ruff, diamond ruff with the ©A and a claim by declarer for plus 850 and a 13-IMP swing. Hugon had a 22-12 victory.