You never know …

A funny result at each table during a mid-week Swiss event.

Playing a team not too well known to us, partner and I experienced the following:

Dealer: N Vul: all vul	North ♠ xx ♥ AKxxx ♦ x ♣ KJTxx
West ♠ AKJTxxx ♥ — ♦ QTxxx ♣ x		East ♠ Q ♥ Jx ♦ KJ9xx ♣ AQxxx
	South ♠ xxx ♥ QTxxxx ♦ Ax ♣ xx

Can you believe it?  Holding the ♦A opposite an opening bid, South sacrificed vulnerable against our 6♦ slam!  I led a spade and partner overtook, cashed a second spade and returned a club.  Two club tricks netted three undertricks for +800. NS had done well to lose 800 rather than 1370.  (As an aside, note that 6♠ can be beaten on a diamond ruff.)

Not to worry; our teammates covered us nicely.  After the same first two bids, South bid only 3♥.  This gambit worked well when West next bid 4♦! and that became the final contract.  Nicely done, teammates, as -170 paired nicely with our +800 for 12 IMPs.