Bridge: swashbuckling bidding leads to fabulous contract

To start the year, a power play from the side with the minority of points . . . 

Bidding
Dealer: West
E/W Game

North certainly assumed that South held a stronger hand than he did, but he felt that his five trumps, plus A♦, would be sufficient. Playing a system where the club opener might be short and weak, West opted to lead 3♦. Declarer seized his opportunity, rising with J♦, before leading 10♥, which ran to West’s A♥. West still refused to lead a club, opting instead for A♠ and 2♠. Declarer won in hand, ruffed a heart in dummy, returned to hand with K♦, and ruffed a further heart. When K♥ appeared, he had only to cash A♦, discarding 6♣ from hand, to complete the coup.

The overtrick was a bonus but it did not contribute much to the score. Reaching and making game was the key to South’s success. Perhaps East should risk a raise to 3D; in their system, West has promised almost an opening hand, and is very likely to hold a five-card suit. Even that modest bid would surely have silenced South and bought the contract. The most common result was 3C by East, failing by one, but maybe a carefree South would have doubled that, indicating similar strength to his overbid, with at least 5-4 in hearts and spades? 

How brave would you be with South’s cards?

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