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

In a high-caliber game, South made a cautious underbid in fourth position to allow for a poor fit with partner. West started play with the king of clubs. South ruffed the next club and led the five of spades, North's queen fetching the ace. When East shifted to the queen of hearts, South calmly ducked!

Taken in, East led a second heart. Now South stepped up with the king, played the jack of spades to draw the enemy trump, and ran hearts to gain the set. The other three players congratulated South on a fine demonstration of well-known suit-establishment principles and entry management

South's strategy required a bit of luck. A different lie of the cards could favor staightforward play, and South's actual plays would appear, in the eyes of novices, to be the efforts of a madman. But who can argue with success?