Pakistan enjoyed the reputation of having a galaxy of bridge super stars in the Middle East and Asian region since about 1975 that had a streak of winning combination spearheaded by Zia Mahmood in zonal championship to have reached finals of Barmuda Bowl in 1981 and runners up in the world championship playing against a strong team of USA.
Among the super stars six players created history. The other players who made a mark on the bridge scene are Masood Saleem, Jan-e-Alam Fazli, Nishat Abedi, Nisar Ahmed and Munir Attaullah. This team proved its mettle as a formidable one which placed Pakistan on the map of the bridge world as one of the bridge playing countries.
After the consecutive successes until 1985 Pakistan lost its grip on international competition because Zia Mehmood opted to become an American citizen and his partner Masood Saleem gradually lost his form playing in different partnerships lacking in understanding, Munir Attaullah had also left the country to live in UK, for quite a long time. Thus the important bridge links were separated. One of the last vital links Nishat Abedi also left playing on Pakistan's side and settled down in America. All these adverse developments in the Pakistan bridge team led to a period of recession.
Now Pakistan is in the midst of struggle to regain the glorious past with Masood Saleem, Jan-e-Alam Fazli, Munir Attaullah, A.R Allana, Shaheen Iqbal, Rashidul Ghazi and some other new and promising faces. It is to be seen how far the team would make an impression on international bridge competitions in times to come.
As a pleasant surprise Nishat Abedi came to Pakistan for a short while and the Pakistan Bridge Federation did suitably well to arranged a Super Bowl in his honour at Aslam Bridge Hall in Karachi, in recognition of his past services and achievements for having played as an indispensable member of Pakistan team. Nishat Abedi is now settled in Chicago and continues to play competitive bridge there recording outstanding performance for the Chicago Club. He has distinguished himself by winning silver point of Chicago Contract Bridge Association (CCBA).
One of the hands, which Nishat played in partnership with Alfert in a tough competition's is given below that shows his keen sense of assessment of opponents bidding to outwit the other side to dissuade them reaching a slam. Undeterred by opponent's pre-emptive and barricading bids Nishat reached the slam contract and successfully made it with his uncanny skill.
(1) Further pre-emptive bid.
West led spade 6
East won the trick with the ace and returned a small spade, which the South ruffed. On seeing the dummy Nishat complemented himself for bidding a slam in diamonds banking on some support by his partner which turned out to be so when his partner produced two keycards that promised his success. And he admirably called the bluff by the opponents. After ruffing a small spade the declarer played two rounds of trumps keeping the ten of diamonds in the dummy as an entry card.
Then he played the ace king of hearts he reached the dummy with the 10 of diamonds and discarded one small club on queen of hearts and finally he finessed the queen of clubs which succeeded. Thus the slam came through, which no other pair holding identical hand could not bid beyond game because of interfering bids by the opponents. Perhaps Nishat would have also settled for a game in diamonds had he not sensed the opponents wild bidding having nothing even worth a part game.
Nishat Abedi said that he would be visiting Pakistan more frequently in months to come and to share his experience with upcoming bridge players in the country. At the prize distribution ceremony Masood Saleem paid rich tribute to Nishat Abedi for his sound judgement and spotless bridge temperament.
GOLDEN TIPS
Sometimes the player's sixth sense comes into play to counter opponents' pre-emptive biddings.
Dealer West
North-South Vulnerable:
North
S J5
H Q53
D 1053
C J1032
West
S K98764
H J972
D J
C 75
East
S AQ32
H 10864
D 98
C K984
South
S 10
H AK
D AKQ7642
C AQ6
The bidding:
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West North East South
Alfert Nishat
3S Pass 5S(1) 6D
Pass Pass Pass
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