How important is it to count the cards in every suit? About half the time you can forego this chore and pay no price. But more often than you imagine, a complete count will mean a difference in the result. At this particular table, South counted everything and West did not.

42 10 AJ764 K10874 AQ87 AQ82 53 J95 J963 K975 Q1098 3 K105 J642 K2 AQ62 The bidding: East South West North 3 4 4 nil South led the A

South won the first trick with the A but lost the Q to East's 6. He won the diamond return and pressed on with the 6, trumped again by East. South knew there were two clubs remaining and guessed that North likely had them both.

East won the 9 and switched to his lowest heart. When South played the J, West won the Q and the nil was secure. A heart was returned to East's 9, and South noted his partner's 8 discard. On East's spade return, South's King fell to the Ace, and West cashed the Q. Let's look at the remaining cards, with West on lead.

-- -- A64 7 87 A3 -- -- -- K7 Q10 -- 10 64 -- 2

South was in trouble. He had bid 4 and so far had taken only two tricks. The 10 was high, but where could he find another?

East/West could easily have set South by cashing their red suit winners, but West led a spade. On this trick North threw the 7. This was a break for South. Winning the 10, he promptly led back the 2.

West was stymied. Did North have one more club? Was South setting his own partner, as we have seen happen all too often? Playing so as not to be the fool, West discarded a heart. When the 2 walked, South had his bid, a team total of 140 points, and a tie for top score.