If an interesting story with a fine finish is marred by a player's mistake, would the reader forgive me if I changed the facts a teeny bit?

The Spades Strategy section of this site features an article by Jay Tomlinson called The Grand Illusion, in which a player with Kxx toys with his LHO's nerves by leading low twice through the Axx. Does this article have any value? Are there Spades players who actually recognize the situation when it turns up? See for yourself. This deal is Hand #3740 from an e-Spades tournament.

A10 J76 AK4 108642 KJ72 Q108 Q1072 95 Q9653 K432 963 3 84 A95 J85 AKQJ7 The bidding: East South West North 4 3 2 3 South led the A

South tried to take two quick club winners but the second club was trumped by East, who shifted smartly to a low spade. North's A topped the K, and he cashed two high diamonds and led a third. East won the Q and played a spade to his partner's Q, picking up the last of the opponents' spades in the process.

In order to set, East/West needed to limit their opponents to only one more trick. In the position shown below, East led a small heart.

-- J76 -- 1086 J7 Q108 10 -- 96 K432 -- -- -- A95 -- QJ7

South played the 5. West won the Q, cashed the 10, and paused to take stock. He had a complete count on his partner's remaining cards and knew East and South still had one high heart apiece. If East had either the A or the KJ, West's play did not matter. But if the cards were as shown, a low-heart lead would give away the set. It would work better if a low-heart lead could originate from East. Accordingly, West led a low spade to his partner.

East duly won the 9 and led a low heart. South should have known there was no hope for his side unless his partner had the Jx, but does there live and breathe a Spades player who holds up his Ace twice? South went up-Ace, and East/West took the remainder to steal the set. A nice finish.

It almost happened this way. West, after cashing his 10 at Trick 9, did indeed recognize the situation and followed with a low spade to his partner's hand. On this trick, however, South ruined the ending when he discarded his 9. Now any heart from East does the job, which is very fortunate. East actually led a screwy heart King. South won the A but had to concede a ruff and sluff to give his opponents the remainder of the tricks, and the set.