The Dangling Conversation

E/W Vul IMPs Dealer: West	efes Q J 8 5 2 K Q 10 7 4 3 2 6	Lead: 9
ericb — Q 10 9 8 6 4 2 9 8 6 5 9 4		boulette A K 10 4 3 A A J Q 10 8 5 2
	Maestro 9 7 6 J 7 5 3 K A K J 7 3

West Pass 1 Pass Pass Dbl

North Pass 1NT 3 4 Pass

East 1 2 Dbl Dbl Pass

South Pass 3 ! 4 !! 4 !!! Pass

The 4-1 fit is often difficult to find, particularly after interference. Today’s hand shows us how. Many people open a spade with East’s hand, but here bidding the clubs first turned out to be a big success. 1NT from North as a passed hand, regardless of agreements, must be sandwich, showing a weakish hand and 5-5 or better in the unbid suits. Perhaps a far better writer than I, a Nabokov or an Amis, could do justice to the icy chill that must have run down North’s spine when Gee bid 3H over East’s 2S. I won’t even try.

North tries to start a conversation with 3S, which would be unpleasant to play but probably doesn’t go for more than 800, but who can stop a runaway train? 3S is greeted with 4C, and a last desperate pull to 4D with 4H! Fortunately N/S kept a close eye on the vulnerability. Down 7 is only -2000 and minus 19 IMPs. Could have been worse. I guess.