Here is a hand from the VCC. The VCC was sponsored by Konica [Could that be the first product placement on pb.com? We're hitting the big leagues, folks. And no, we don't know what the VCC is either, but it sounds awesome. —Ed], who also donated a camera for the best bridge article. The winning hand was judged by Jim Borin who is including it in his column in the Melbourne Age. Luckily the following amusing incident happened at our table, so Mary Ellen is now star declarer in one of the Melbourne Age's columns. And deservedly so because as usual I overbid...

Mary Ellen opened 1 and West doubled. North managed to upgrade his intermediates and bid 3NT. East passed and Mary Ellen thought that opposite 13-15 with clubs, 6 could well be the go and bid 4 as a slam try. West doubled again for takeout and North passed. East knew what to do to over that and doubled for penalties!

We were using written bidding and there was a bit of a pregnant pause before reality sunk in. The director was called and East's illegal bid was cancelled. She was required to change it to any other legal call but her partner would be barred from the auction and there may well be lead penalties. East promptly passed.

Mary Ellen was a bit suspicious at this stage. Here she was contemplating 6 and she was being resoundingly doubled in four! Still it was partner who was likely to lose the post-mortem and she passed. West passed perforce and that ended the auction.

The director was still present and now advised South that she could prohibit the lead of any suit. That was relatively easy and a diamond was forbidden. West led the A, low from dummy and low from East and Mary Ellen pitched a small diamond. This loser on loser prevented her from being forced off and left West on lead.

"You still may not lead a diamond" advised the director. West led A and everyone followed low. "You are still prohibited from leading a diamond" came the director who seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. A heart will beat the contract now but West played another spade. Mary Ellen won and drew all five rounds of trumps. A diamond towards dummy's King provided the tenth trick and a fine score of +710. Easy game.

With E/W cold for four or five hearts we were quite confident going to score up but unfortunately lost 7 imps when 4X had made an overtrick at the other table on the A lead. N/S had remembered to bid spades at their table.