Too many deals have been presented that accentuate players' mistakes. It really can't be helped. Frankly, it is quite difficult to find a deal both interesting and free of error, let alone one with brilliancy. Thus I am pleased to report now on an exceptionally well-played deal, one that brought down an apparently bulletproof nil bid.

863 K7654 -- AJ762 A72 Q1092 Q10985 Q J54 A83 AK642 109 KQ109 J J73 K8543 The bidding: East South West North 3 3 3 nil South led the J

Hoping to pass the lead, South opened the play with her singleton J. West won (East dropping an important 8) and, suspecting North of a higher heart honor, played the ten of hearts. East overtook with the A as North falsecarded with the 4 and South discarded the 3.

East's 6-shift was covered by the 7, and allowed to hold as West saw he had no good continuation. South's J lead was won by East. North used these two plays to shed her two high cards, the A and K. Now East found the fine play of the 3, an example of the Forcing Defense at nil. South cut with the 9, collecting the 9 and 6.

South turned to spades. The King fell to West's Ace. The 2 was continued to East's J, which was allowed to hold. Once again, East was on lead in a difficult position. These cards remained:

6 5 -- J762 7 2 Q109 Q 4 -- A42 109 Q -- -- K8543

And once again East found the right defense -- a third round of spades. South won and took the K but had to surrender the next lead to East's 10. A low diamond went to West's ten and North, perhaps confused by her own falsecard at Trick 2, threw the 6. But the matter was straightened out when West produced the carefully-saved 2.

The nil was bid at every other table and made each time. Our East and West racked up the set and a well-deserved top score. C'mon folks! Give this pair a hand.