North J 4 2 9 8 6 A 9 8 J 10 8 5 West K Q A K Q 7 3 Q Q 9 4 3 2 East A J 10 5 4 2 K 5 4 A K 7 6 South 10 9 8 7 6 5 3 -- J 10 7 6 3 2 -- The bidding: South West North East 6 3 1 3 South led the 2

Hands with freakish distribution are impossible to bid accurately. If partner has a poor fit you will take few tricks. But with a good fit...

South had mixed feelings toward his strange hand. He might take anywhere between four and eight tricks, depending on Pard's holdings. Eventually he settled on six, a good compromise. East felt his three-bid was on the conservative side, but even a one-bid from East would have been too high.

There was little to the play. South led a low diamond to North's ace. North, ever the good partner, returned his partner's suit. East stepped up, but nothing he could do would earn his side more than three tricks -- a diamond and two spades. And, for the bag-conscious folk, South had no way to avoid three overtricks.