Chicago Tribune Dec. 31, 1987
What are the traits that distinguish the bridge expert from the average player?
Technique. yes; but, even more important. Judgment.
Watch one of the world’s great card players, Zia Mahmood, in action during the recent World Teams Championship. 
After three passes, Zia opened two no trump on a hand considered one point light by most experts.
North checked one major-suit fit with Stayman. Then bid the suit game when he found his partner with four hearts.
At several tables the hand was played in a heart contract and no other declarer managed more than nine tricks.
Lead: 
2
Zia received a trump opening lead, won by the table’s 8. It seems obvious to take the diamond finesse, but why had West chosen to lead away from the king of trumps?
Zia decided that he had done so because his other choices looked even less attractive and Zia backed his table feel to the hilt in the play.
At trick two he led a club and finessed the nine, losing to the jack. West exited with a trump, won in hand, and a trump to the ace feiled the king. Now the ten of clubs was run to East’s ace, and he got off lead safely enough by returning a club. When the queen appeared, declarer had fulfilled his contract because he could discard spade on the table’s good club. Zia gracefully conceded a diamond and eventually a diamond ruff on the board was the entry to the 13th club. Declarer’s only losers were two clubs and a diamond.