Many card combinations that are remarkably easy on paper can prove far too difficult to solve at the table. The problem, I suppose, is that players are not counting the cards, even in their most important suit.

-- 852 632 J876542 Q98765 QJ74 5 109 J K1093 AJ9874 A3 AK10432 A6 KQ10 KQ The bidding: West North East South 4 nil 3 7 North led the 6

The bidding at all tables approximated the sample shown to the right, with North always bidding nil and South claiming he will take about seven tricks. In addition, the play at all tables was similar. In some order there were two rounds of clubs, two rounds of hearts, and two rounds of diamonds, West trumping the second diamond with a low spade. West's heart return was trumped by South, who laid down a top spade. By one way or another, following position was reached, with South to play and needing three of the last five tricks.

-- -- 2 6542 Q987 J -- -- -- 10 J987 -- K1043 -- Q --

When East discarded on the next top spade, South should see he could no longer make his 7-bid. Some Souths were not aware of the situation, however, and optimistically continued with the 2, offering no resistance at all ("Maybe East will play a spade this time"). Typically, West won the 8, cashed the Q (a poor play which here does no harm), and exited with a heart. South trumped with the 10, his last spade, and surrendered the setting trick to West's 9.

Although the play of the K revealed the position was lost, some Souths gave themselves a fighting chance by leading the Q. West trumped with the 8 and again cashed the Q ("Maybe South will drop the 10"). When South followed with the 3, West's lead no longer mattered. South's 104 would win the last two tricks.

I'll not insult my readers my spelling out West's correct actions. Some combinations are just too easy.