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

North and South needed a 10-bid to overtake and beat their expert opponents, and they were dealt the right cards to do it. West started the attack with the queen of hearts, which held as everyone played low. The next heart was covered with the king and ace, and a third round was ruffed by South.

South started clubs, leading the king. West made a fine play by ducking; on this trick East started a high-low with the eight. South continued clubs. West won the ace and led a third round, ruffed with the ten and overruffed with the queen. East brought out the fourth round of hearts, and South avoided immediate defeat by going up with the ace of spades. Now, belatedly, South led a spade. West's nine forced the king and it was all over. The jack of spades was boss.

This hand could be a textbook example for the importance of drawing trump. When South ruffs the third heart, he lays down the ace of spades and leads another, and the rest goes on wheels.