Bridge | 8 August 2023

It’s been more than 30 years since Zia Mahmood published his classic memoir, Bridge My Way*, and now – finally! – he brings us up to date with Bridge, A Love Story. It’s published next week, and having just binge-read an early copy, I can assure you that it’s every bit as brilliant.

Zia is still at the very top of his game, and the book fizzes with passion and energy. It’s full of funny anecdotes, snapshots of legendary players, hands galore, quizzes, tips and his views on everything from the best players in the world (no spoilers) to which conventions should be dumped (Gerber).

At 77, he doesn’t feel old, but he acknowledges the outward signs are there, such as the Scandinavian ex-girlfriend who used to send him the same message before every important final – ‘Play as well as you make love!’ – but who these days simply writes ‘Good luck’.

Above all, this is an enormously generous book. The acclaimed master of deception has chosen to share many of his deep-held secrets, and they are dynamite (look out for the one on pseudo-splinters). He never misses the chance for even the simplest false-card if it might send declarer astray. The book is full of examples. Here, Zia was West, partnering Andrew Robson:

Zia led the ♣️A then the ♣️K, ruffed. South cashed the ♠️K – and Zia followed with the ♠️J! Assuming a 4-1 break, South knew he could no longer draw four rounds of trumps and still ruff a heart. But his ♠️8 meant he could set up diamonds instead. He played a diamond to the ♦️Q and one back to the ♦️A, ruffed the third diamond ‘safely’ with the ♠️A, and returned to hand with the ‘marked’ finesse of the ♠️8. Zia of course won with the ♠️9 – one down!

* Available via Andrew Robson Bridge.