So what did you lead? A Spade or a Heart? 2 down and - 300. JD? One down - 100.

On the day, North led a low Club (!) to the Ace, expecting a Spade return.

Instead, South returned another Club......

West discarded their singleton Spade, a low Club from North and the 8 won the trick in dummy.

Then a Diamond finessed to the Queen, Ace and another. North pondered, then discarded a Spade. Ruff in dummy.

A low Heart to the Ace, small Heart back, taken by the King and dropping the Jack.

Now a Spade is ruffed, the last trump drawn and the 3 remaining Diamonds are good.

11 tricks and + 650.....

..... and, yes, this was the play at one table! The Bude E/W pair were elated!!

What do you open as East?

A gambling 3 No Trump usually promises a solid 8-card minor and an outside entry.

Too strong for a pre-empt, possibly, so a sensible 1 Diamond.

South may be tempted to bid 2 No Trumps, to show both majors, but maybe too weak!

West bids 2 Diamonds, showing a weak hand with Diamond support 

North, with this powerhouse, Doubles.

East is now in competitive mode and bids 3 Diamonds (maybe looking at the vulnerabliity)

South now bids 4 Hearts - the void in Diamonds is a real feature of the hand.

North is excited, looking for a slam, and bids 4 No Trumps (Roman Key Card Blackwood, asking for Aces)

South realises the importance of the Diamond void and skips the usual 5 Diamond response (no Aces) and jumps straight tro 6 Hearts.

West and North both Pass, and East thinks....

6 Hearts is 1430, 7 Diamonds down 5 Doubled is only 1400.....

They bid 7 Diamonds. It is duly doubled and goes down 5, but East has saved the day!