North 7 4 Q 10 K 10 7 6 3 Q 7 3 2 West A 9 2 9 8 7 5 4 9 8 2 K J East Q J 10 A K J 6 3 2 5 A 8 5 South K 8 6 5 3 -- A Q J 4 10 9 6 4 The bidding: South West North East 5 2 1 4 South led the 4

South's plan was to lead spades at every opportunity. Since she needed the diamond suit for later entries, she chose to lead a club. West correctly played the jack, covered by the queen and ace. East shifted to the ace of hearts, which was trumped. South now made the normal play of the Bridge player; she immediately led spades. When a small spade was placed on the table, West made the common mistake of rising with the ace. No doubt he wanted to prevent further spade leads so that he might score a club ruff. He cashed his king of clubs and led the nine of diamonds.

North covered the diamond with the ten, which some Souths would allow to win, but this South was leaving nothing to chance. She overtook the trick with the jack to play the king and then another spade. East won the third round of spades for his side's fifth and final trick, not enough to fulfill his side's bid. Had South not extracted the opponents' spades, either East or West could have gotten a ruff for their side's vital sixth trick.