You cannot afford to make a mistake against a strong pair. They'll pluck you like a chicken. Or a grape. Or a guitar string, maybe. Oh, choose your own metaphor. In any case, you're plucked.

J1042 A9863 A8 J6 KQ976 10 105 109875 A53 QJ52 QJ6 K42 8 K74 K97432 AQ3 West North East South 4 3 3 2 North led the A

East stretched his 2.5-bid to come up with a 3-bid, making matters easier for South. South could raise the stakes to a 12-total with a conservative call of 2, just in case the cards broke badly for his side.

North led the Ace and another diamond. Winning the second trick, South continued with a third round of the suit. West made the critical mistake of trumping with the 6, and from that point there was no recovery. North won by overtrumping with the 10.

Now North shifted to clubs. He played the standard lead from Jx, the J, and South was pleased to duck. The next club went to South's Q and the Ace followed. The A was the seventh and setting trick for North/South, sinking East/West before they could take a single winner.

West's third-round spade was a clear mistake. He should have noticed his partner's honor card on the previous round. If he simply discards his lone heart, his side should prevail. When they get the lead, three rounds of spades will deny N/S a heart winner, and clear the path for N/S to take seven tricks.

For the record, South could have given his opponents no chance at all by switching to hearts at Trick 3 before playing a third round of diamonds, but there is no indication this is a good play.