North 873 A K Q 4 2 J 5 4 3 2 West Q 5 2 8 7 6 3 2 A 10 9 3 7 East 4 J 10 9 5 7 6 5 4 A 10 9 8 South A K J 10 9 6 -- K Q J 8 K Q 6 The bidding: East South West North 1 7 2 3 East led the J

After East had bid one, South counted and re-counted his tricks to make sure, and bid a confident seven. West bid two, and North, who had no way of diagnosing the misfit, went for the 2-for-10 by bidding three. East led the jack of hearts. Note that an initial ace of clubs and a club ruff does not help the defense.

If South showed the discipline to discard at trick one there would be no story; A few minutes later his side would have come to ten tricks. But South was anxious to break spades and went in with the six of trumps. North's sarcastic comments at this point left no doubt in anyone's mind about the location of the top hearts.

South now continued with the ace and king of spades and then turned his attention to his second suit, diamonds, and West took the first lead of the suit with the ace. Now came the key play from West--the killing third round of spades. The lead of the queen removed North's last spade, taking with it both North's remaining ruffing power and entry to the heart suit.

West then exited with a club to partner's ace. South had one last resource to consider, dropping the queen under the ace as an unblocking play. He chose not do so, and ultimately had to yield the fourth and setting trick to West's ten of diamonds.