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

If there is an urgency to leading spades, the act of breaking spades is important enough to be worth a trick itself.

North chose to bid conservatively, since his fine hand might fit poorly with his partner's. West led the ace and a second heart. North's eight was high, but South judged from the bidding his side held a majority of spades. Accordingly, he ruffed his partner's trick and led a low spade.

North took the obligatory two rounds of trump and ran the heart suit. East and West had no chance at all, and were handily set. Notice the importance of South's ruff at Trick Two. If he lets North hold the trick, the next heart is ruffed by West and the defenders should easily find their ace-king of clubs and ace of diamonds to fulfill their bid.