I was quite excited, and put together a system file for us. It was based on the last convention card we did (from 2014), which I found on an email that included the phrase "I wrote it mostly on my own, and I'm not sure Anna has actually agreed everything". In that same spirit I added some intereresting singleton game tries to the system, and we were ready to go.
On the very first board I put Anna under pressure, as I doubled the opponents after a strange auction:
The 1NT opening is 13-15. After the 2♦ bid I asked "are we alerting our own bids?" really meaning "Is that actually a transfer?". It turns out it was indeed a natural bid, though still seems an odd choice. When 2♦ came round to me I felt the points were likely divided about 20-20 so doubled for takeout. They weren't of course, the opponents were resting in 2♦ with 25 points between them, and Anna was stuffed. She passed out 2♦x, which I think is the least bad choice.
On the Spade lead declarer has eight tricks (just losing two Clubs and three Diamonds), and after cashing the Ace of Diamonds could have made an overtrick by discarding three clubs. As it is 2♦x= gave them +180. Not too much of a disaster for us, especially as 3NT is making their way (sadly our other table only made 2NT+2, so the board was flat). It could have been nasty though if South had found a redouble.
As we played it slowly became apparent our opponents were playing quite an unusual system. As far as I could tell overcalls were treated like opening bids, so for example they doubled with any shape, and overcalled 1NT with any 15-17 hand. Responses to overcalls were made as if partner had opened the bidding at the one level. Looked strange but seemed to work for them.
We edged ahead when the other table went down in game, and extended that lead when I made this 3NT.
When Anna overcalls 3♣ I know there's a good chance of six club tricks plus two Spades, and "where there's eight, there's nine". South duly lead a Spade. Dummy has only five Clubs but with the ♥A I have eight tricks. With a second Spade stopper I had time to finesse twice in Hearts. I was worried when both finesses lost, but thankfully North had no Spades left to return, so I did get my two Heart tricks. It's bad luck for South, as any lead other than a Spade leaves me a trick short.
In the other room the 3♠ opener was passed out, and went two off.
With two boards to go the opponents did well to bid to a light 4♥, leaving us a narrow one IMP lead going into the final board. Could we hold them off?
I had several tough bidding decisions here. Firstly, when Anna opens 1♦ I could repond naturally in Clubs, but instead went for 1♥, reasoning that if Anna is weak then when she rebids 2♦ I can bid 3♣ and show five Hearts. But to my surprise Anna rebid 2♣, and now we're in business.
I thought about a bold jump to 6♣, but that could look foolish if Anna has all her points in Diamonds, and so has weak Spades or four small trumps. I made the technically correct but more boring bid of 4♣, which sets Clubs as trumps and is forcing as it takes us past 3NT. Anna signed off with 5♣, and I now felt obliged to respect that. Anna couldn't know how useful her Spade honours were (if she cuebids 4♠ I would jump to 6♣), so the slam was missed.
On a Spade lead then trump switch Anna ruffed all her Heart losers in dummy for a comfortable 12 tricks. This beat the 5♣= in the other room for a one IMP gain and 19-17 win!
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