Interesting and Amusing Tales from the Bridge Table

Almost Amazingly Lucky - From the BCD Swiss at the SF National, 12/2/2007
My Dad and I had planned to play in the Swiss with Carol and her friend Jan, this team having been defeated the previous day in the first round of our knockout by the narrow margin of 4 imps. Prior to the start of the event, we picked up a 5th team member, Alan from London, another friend of Carol's. So, with a rotating sitout, both Dad and I would have to play some with partners besides each other. Fine for me, was a bit worried about Dad (though I needn't have been). Anyway, we come to I believe the 3rd match of the day and Dad takes his sitout, so I play with Alan. He looks over my CC, which is full of what I play with Dad, not what I'd like to play given the choice (hint hint nudge nudge, Dad, if you read this). Anyway, in the middle of this 7-board round, I pick up the following hand in 4th seat, all white:

S Jxx
H 108xx
D xxx
C 10xx
So, of course, partner picks this hand to open in 2nd seat with 2C (standard) and now I have a problem. With Dad (and just about everybody else) I play that 2H here shows a total bust, and 2D is waiting but game-forcing. How closely did Alan look at my card? Well, I don't have much choice but to follow my card so I bid 2H showing the bust and... no alert. Crap... Alan thinks I have a positive response and hearts and bids 3H. This 3H is a forcing bid and I can't use the fact that I know we're in trouble to stop, I have to respond as though I heard an alert, so I bid 4H with 4-card support. Partner bids 4NT RKCB and I respond 5C showing 0 or 3 (0 of course, and P knows this). Partner then bids 6H, and I have to play it! The opening lead is a spade and dummy comes down:
S A
H AKQJ9x
D Q10
C AKJ8x
I have been fortunate to escape a D lead and now I actually have a fighting chance. I win the stiff AS and cash 2 top hearts, LHO discarding on the 2nd. I cash the AC in case the Q is stiff and cross to my hand with a low trump to the 10, drawing the last outstanding trump in the process. Now all I need is for the clubs to have started Qxx on my left. A low club towards the KJ and LHO plays low, I play the J and... RHO shows out. So close, but I can't ruff the club good and pitch 2 diamonds and ruff a diamond with only one trump and 2 extra clubs on board. The slam goes down one for a game swing the wrong way. It seems I have no manner of luck at all. Perhaps if I lead the 10C towards the board LHO will neglect to cover holding, at that point, Q9x. Seems doubtful though. Trade partner's 8C for LHO's 9, and all works out well for us.