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

North won the opening lead with the queen of hearts and followed with the king, noting the fall of the jack and ten. Thinking only in terms of routine play at Spades, in which everyone grabs their tricks immediately, North cashed the ace of diamonds. If only he had done some thinking one trick earlier!

The ace of diamonds was both a key stopper and a vital entry to North's hand. It should not have been released so casually. Now it made no difference what North led to Trick Four; the hand was already blown. In practice he led a club, and the opponents quickly took four tricks in clubs and diamonds to register the set. North's mistake cost his side 200 points instead of a 200-point gain. (The 10-trick bonus option was in effect.)

The correct line of play should be easy to find even at the table. Knowing that his side must play two quick rounds of spades, North must lead a low heart at trick three. Whether East trumps or not, South wins the trick while breaking spades. Now he takes the ace-king of spades. Once trumps have been drawn while North still retains an entry to his hand, even a series of bad guesses by South will lose no more than two clubs and a diamond.