Rodwell (South) was not shy about forcing to game with his eleven-point hand.  No-trump lite indeed - 22 high-card points.  But Meckstroth’s six diamonds looked like they might be their salvation.

In fact there were plenty of tricks if Meckstroth could extract the ¨A before losing a bunch of hearts.  East selected the obvious good heart lead.  Unfortunately he chose the ©K, overtaken with the ©A by his partner, who immediately returned his second and last heart.  Presumably East expected to drive out Meckstroth’s sole heart stopper early then run his hearts whenever partner got into the lead.  However this first trick created a heart stopper for Meckstroth and prevented West from returning another heart when he won his ¨A.  Meckstroth was able to concede a diamond without fear of another heart return.

Elsewhere Brazil also reached 3NT but from the other side, putting West on lead.  West began with a low spade; declarer winning and immediately driving out the ¨A.  At the second chance to find hearts, West concluded that a switch was called for, but selected clubs.  Too little, too late.

Both teams had aggressively pressed this very lite deal to improbable games, no doubt counting on diamonds to come through, or maybe just wishing it so.  In any event, both sides made the un-makeable game.  Mystique, serendipity, or what?