I’m not sure South should have fallen for that later in the play although the shock effect at the time would have been huge. When East plays the H9, though, has he really played the H from K9 alone? On a different day, declarer could have had J10xx or even QJxx in trumps with disastrous consequences. Still stunning defence, though.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJanuary 16th, 2024 at 3:04 pm
Hi Iain,
In addition Zia is very ethical when he makes strange, in what Horace might say, credit for silly plays, and, no doubt, we may not hear of those which do not work, but overall, and wherever he goes, he is, almost always, greeted by his opponents who seem happy to play against him.
No doubt he appears to be almost universally admired as a real credit to our game, and if nothing else, when he is at one’s table, no one goes to sleep.
Iain ClimieJanuary 16th, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Hi Bobby,
I recall playing against him around 1983. He was impeccably polite but his speed was something else – and I was a decent tournament player at the time so reckoned I could cope with fast play.
Regards,
Iain
Jeff SerandosJanuary 16th, 2024 at 5:13 pm
Hi Bobby and Iain,
I suspect playing against Zia with his incredible imagination and blazing fast speed must be a mind-melting, down-the-rabbithole, we’re-not-in-Kansas-anymore experience. Sure, declarer could have asked himself why West with his presumed four to the jack would trump in with the seven instead of the nine or whether Zia would really have played the king from Kx, but he may well have felt like a rabbit hypnotized by a swaying cobra by that point seeing wheels-within-wheels-within-wheels. I don’t envy him; it is way easier from the sidelines.
On the other hand, somewhat paradoxically, – I do envy Iain for having that opportunity, I am sure it was memorable.
Cheers,
Jeff
bobbywolffJanuary 16th, 2024 at 6:12 pm
Hi Jeff,
First, Iain is talking about around 1983, when Zia lived in Pakistan and was basically new to
the group of foreign players with high aspirations. In the last years he has spent much time in America (NY City) and was familiar at all our Nationals. And don’t be misled, he was an excellent and careful player, like all the top ones are, making few mistakes and no doubt,
taking advantage of being thought of as a gambling ass from Aransas Pass.
I loved your above reference to “we’re not in Kansas anymore” since Frank Baum and his “Over The Rainbow” presentation of “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland” is my favorite story of all time”. That story was also brought up many times at World bridge
tournaments with reference to Frank Morgan, the fake Wizard being a symbol for psyching.
Yes he has and I’m sure still does have a great sense of humor, which, as you might guess, be able to laugh at oneself for anything off center, like strange opening leads and/or, unusual bidding choices and, of course his false cards, the discussion of today.
In some ways we need to feel sorry for him, not having the support of enough talent to win at the very top, although he came close about 40 years ago when the venue was NYC, but alas they came out second to the US team which was no small miracle, to get that far.
Iain ClimieJanuary 16th, 2024 at 11:05 pm
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for that and we came 2nd when we played his team in the Brighton Swiss To4 competition that summer.
Hi Bobby,
Wasn’t a crucial hand in USA vs Pakistan a lead problem vs 3N redoubled. Get it wrong and it makes (possibly with at least one overtrick); get it right and it is several off. I think the USA had a fair lead at the time and one player decided to try and strike a potentially match winning blow while still having a cushion if things went wrong.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJanuary 17th, 2024 at 1:20 am
Hi Iain,
I was not there and do not remember a discussion about a crucial hand, but that was definitely not proof, by any means, that your memory was not right on.
Since I do not think that the final result was close, that hand you mention, was likely early on, before the end result got out of hand for the Paki’s. But that thought also, is merely a guess.
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Hi Bobby,
I’m not sure South should have fallen for that later in the play although the shock effect at the time would have been huge. When East plays the H9, though, has he really played the H from K9 alone? On a different day, declarer could have had J10xx or even QJxx in trumps with disastrous consequences. Still stunning defence, though.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
In addition Zia is very ethical when he makes strange, in what Horace might say, credit for silly plays, and, no doubt, we may not hear of those which do not work, but overall, and wherever he goes, he is, almost always, greeted by his opponents who seem happy to play against him.
No doubt he appears to be almost universally admired as a real credit to our game, and if nothing else, when he is at one’s table, no one goes to sleep.
Hi Bobby,
I recall playing against him around 1983. He was impeccably polite but his speed was something else – and I was a decent tournament player at the time so reckoned I could cope with fast play.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Bobby and Iain,
I suspect playing against Zia with his incredible imagination and blazing fast speed must be a mind-melting, down-the-rabbithole, we’re-not-in-Kansas-anymore experience. Sure, declarer could have asked himself why West with his presumed four to the jack would trump in with the seven instead of the nine or whether Zia would really have played the king from Kx, but he may well have felt like a rabbit hypnotized by a swaying cobra by that point seeing wheels-within-wheels-within-wheels. I don’t envy him; it is way easier from the sidelines.
On the other hand, somewhat paradoxically, – I do envy Iain for having that opportunity, I am sure it was memorable.
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
First, Iain is talking about around 1983, when Zia lived in Pakistan and was basically new to
the group of foreign players with high aspirations. In the last years he has spent much time in America (NY City) and was familiar at all our Nationals. And don’t be misled, he was an excellent and careful player, like all the top ones are, making few mistakes and no doubt,
taking advantage of being thought of as a gambling ass from Aransas Pass.
I loved your above reference to “we’re not in Kansas anymore” since Frank Baum and his “Over The Rainbow” presentation of “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland” is my favorite story of all time”. That story was also brought up many times at World bridge
tournaments with reference to Frank Morgan, the fake Wizard being a symbol for psyching.
Yes he has and I’m sure still does have a great sense of humor, which, as you might guess, be able to laugh at oneself for anything off center, like strange opening leads and/or, unusual bidding choices and, of course his false cards, the discussion of today.
In some ways we need to feel sorry for him, not having the support of enough talent to win at the very top, although he came close about 40 years ago when the venue was NYC, but alas they came out second to the US team which was no small miracle, to get that far.
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for that and we came 2nd when we played his team in the Brighton Swiss To4 competition that summer.
Hi Bobby,
Wasn’t a crucial hand in USA vs Pakistan a lead problem vs 3N redoubled. Get it wrong and it makes (possibly with at least one overtrick); get it right and it is several off. I think the USA had a fair lead at the time and one player decided to try and strike a potentially match winning blow while still having a cushion if things went wrong.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
I was not there and do not remember a discussion about a crucial hand, but that was definitely not proof, by any means, that your memory was not right on.
Since I do not think that the final result was close, that hand you mention, was likely early on, before the end result got out of hand for the Paki’s. But that thought also, is merely a guess.