This dramatic deal occurred in a playoff match to determine the team to represent the United States in the 1973 world team championship.
At the first table, Bill Grieve (playing with George Rapee) overcalled two no-trump with three clubs, intending this to show a genuine club suit. But Rapee, justifiably or not, read three clubs as an artificial bid showing length in both majors, and jumped to four spades.
That response did not sit well with Grieve, who retreated to five clubs. After two passes, East — holding 21 high-card points including the A-K of trump — doubled.
Amazingly, five clubs turned out to be unbeatable! Grieve won the diamond lead with the ace, played the ace of hearts, ruffed a heart, ruffed a spade and ruffed another heart, felling the king. He then gave up two trump tricks to make his doubled contract.
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At the second table, the bidding went:
John Swanson, playing with Paul Soloway, was South at this table and elected to pass two no-trump because he and Soloway were playing that three clubs would promise both majors.
When the bidding died at three no-trump, Swanson passed again — this time because he thought he had a good chance to beat the contract with a club lead. This proved to be an illusion when declarer won the club queen with the king and returned the king of diamonds to secure nine tricks and a total gain of 1,150 points for his team.
