Mathematically, a player will be dealt 7-6-0-0 distribution once every 17971 deals. It is therefore not surprising that when this rarity does occur, it might lead to an unusual outcome. Even so, no one could have predicted what would transpire on this deal from a match between Ireland and Portugal in the European Championship some years ago.

When Ireland held the North-South cards, the bidding went as shown, and South became declarer at six hearts doubled. East’s double was conventional, or so he thought. His intent was to try to get West to make an abnormal lead. Since a spade or a diamond lead would have been more normal on the auction, East, reasonably enough, thought that his double suggested a club lead.

However, West didn’t see it that way. It was hard for him to imagine, on the bidding, that East could ruff a club, so he led a spade. As a result, the Irish declarer made the contract with an overtrick for a score of 1860 points.

When Portugal held the North-South cards, the bidding went:

South’s double at this table was equally unsuccessful. North led the ace of clubs, and the Irish declarer again had no trouble making the contract with an overtrick to score another 1860 points. Ireland thus bid and made a doubled slam with an overtrick at both tables -- one with the North-South cards and the other with the East-West cards -- to gain a total of 3720 points!

North could have saved the 200-point overtrick by leading a heart instead of a club, but this would have been only a drop in the bucket.

Tomorrow >> Famous Hand.

— Steve Becker