Be careful where you tread, you may leave footprints.

After two passes and the dreaded multi 2 diamonds, I didn't have enough for a 2NT bid, but since LHO was a passed hand and the vulnerability was favorable, I felt that was more representative than the classic double with a balanced 13-15.

West led the and switched to the unreadable low spade. East made a good play by ducking and now the ball was in my court. I clearly needed to find the or you could turn out the lights. So what did I know.

First the opening leader tried a high club. This looks a lot like a 4+ card suit. Second he bid vulnerable with a presumed strong NT over partner. 

Third he was a passed hand.

If he had 3 little spades, he is a braver man than I. If he had the he was unlikely to have the .

So I played off three rounds of diamonds, noting the 3-3 break and held my breath when I played a heart to the J. It held, else this story would have not seen the light of day, and another elegant was chalked up when would have required much kindness from the opponents to make. Incidentally, I agree with the bid, but it does remind one that in bridge as in life the free lunch is hard to come by. My decision to play was a close one and certainly might have worked out badly. Partner could have doubled for takeout and I might have collected a penalty, or bid or . We will never know.