Practice Makes Perfect

The last time Zia Mahmood and Jill Meyers played together in a big tournament, it was for "practice" in advance of their entry in the World Mixed Pairs in Verona. The result was a win in the Bobby Nail Life Master Pairs.

They started off well in the opening qualifying session of the Mixed Pairs with a solid 61% effort. On the following board, the second of the day, Zia worked a bit of his hocus pocus (albeit with the help of the opponents) to emerge with two extra overtricks.

Board 28. Dealer West. N/S Vul.
	♠ A J 7 3 ♥ A Q 10 5 ♦ A 5 ♣ A Q 7
♠ Q 8 ♥ 9 7 6 4 ♦ Q J 9 6 2 ♣ 4 3		♠ K 10 9 5 4 ♥ J 8 3 2 ♦ K 4 ♣ J 8
	♠ 6 2 ♥ K ♦ 10 8 7 3 ♣ K 10 9 6 5 2

West	North	East	South
	Zia		Meyers
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

It’s easy to see that a club slam is easy to play. Bidding slam is another matter.

The opening lead was the ♠9, which went to the queen and ace. Ordinary players might unblock the ♥K then run clubs, hoping that something good would happen at the end. Not Zia. He started on clubs immediately, giving the opponents unaccountable discarding problems. With three discards to make on dummy’s club suit, Zia tossed the ♠3, then the ♠J, followed by the ♦5. East discarded a couple of hearts (West did, too, plus the ♦Q at one point). After running clubs, Zia overtook dummy’s ♥K with the ace, and when the jack fell under the ♥Q, cashed two more tricks in that suit. East, clinging to her diamond stopper, let go all of her spades, and in the end Zia produced the ♦A and the good ♠7 for 13 tricks and most of the matchpoints.On the next deal, Meyers had to make a decision at trick one – and she did the right thing.

Board 1. Dealer North. None Vul.
	♠ 4 3 ♥ K 9 8 ♦ 9 8 2 ♣ J 9 7 5 4
♠ A Q 9 8 ♥ 10 6 ♦ A K Q 10 6 ♣ K 6		♠ J 7 6 ♥ A Q J 3 2 ♦ J 7 ♣ Q 8 3
	♠ K 10 5 2 ♥ 7 5 4 ♦ 5 4 3 ♣ A 10 2

West	North	East	South
	Zia		Meyers
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1♦	Pass	2♣	Pass
3NT	All Pass

Zia started off with a low club. Meyers considered whether to play the ace or to insert the 10. After a brief study, during which she eyed the ominous-looking heart suit in dummy, Meyers played the ace – a good move as it turned out. Had she inserted the 10, declarer would have taken all the tricks, thanks to the successful heart finesse. The spade finesse obviously works, but declarer wouldn’t have had to take it – there’s a showup squeeze in the end if declarer cashes red-suit tricks in the proper order.

Boards 15 and 16 produced consecutive grand slams for North-South, but Zia and Meyers bid only one of them. They made up for one of the missed slams with excellent defense on the following deal.

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ K 9 8 2 ♥ 8 6 5 4 ♦ 6 ♣ A 10 9 7
♠ A 4 ♥ A K 7 ♦ J 10 9 4 3 ♣ K 5 3		♠ Q J 10 5 3 ♥ J 9 3 2 ♦ K Q 8 2 ♣ -
	♠ 7 6 ♥ Q 10 ♦ A 7 5 ♣ Q J 8 6 4 2 West North East South
	Zia		Meyers
		Pass	Pass
1NT	Pass	2♥	Pass
2♠	Pass	3♥	Pass
3NT	Pass	4♦	Pass
4♥	All Pass

This was not the best contract – certainly not for game – and declarer did not find the best line of play to minimize the damage. Zia and Meyers took full advantage.

The opening lead of the ♣Q was covered by the king and ace, ruffed, and declarer took a spade finesse at trick two. Zia won the ♠K, considered his next play for a moment, and returned a low heart to the 3, 10 and ace. Declarer then ruffed a club, played a spade to the ace and ruffed dummy’s last club, then put the ♦K on the table. Meyers won the ♦A and exited with the ♥Q. The ♥K was declarer’s last trick. Zia ruffed the diamond continuation, pulled dummy’s last trump with the 8 and played a club to Meyers’ hand. That was four down for plus 200 and most of the matchpoints. Zia and Meyers shone on defense again two boards later.

Board 20. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ Q J 3 ♥ 10 8 2 ♦ J 10 8 7 ♣ 7 6 2
♠ A K 9 7 6 4 ♥ K 7 5 3 ♦ 3 ♣ Q 5		♠ 10 ♥ 9 6 4 ♦ A 6 5 4 2 ♣ A K J 8
	♠ 8 5 2 ♥ A Q J ♦ K Q 9 ♣ 10 9 4 3

West	North	East	South
	Zia		Meyers
1♠	Pass	2♦	Pass
2♥	Pass	3♣	Pass
3♠	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Meyers hit on the opening lead of the ♥Q, which held. The ♥J followed, and it, too, was a winner. Concerned at this point mostly with overtricks – or the chance for a plus should Zia get in somehow – exited with the ♦K, which produced an unexpected bonus. Declarer took the ♦A and ran the ♠10 to Zia’s queen. He returned his last heart to Meyers’ ace, and she cashed the ♦Q, following with the ♦9, which Zia overtook. The ♦10 was the seventh trick for the defenders, earning plus 300 when they might have been minus 650 in defense against 4♠.