| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | Pass | 1♣ | Pass |
| 1♥ | 1NT | 2♠ | 3♥! |
| Pass | 3♠ | Dbl | 4♣!! |
| Pass | 4♦ | Dbl | 4♥!!! |
| Dbl | Pass | Pass | 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.