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

Players often get away with a 4-spade nil. There is a simple defense to it -- provided the defenders figure it out in time.

Who wouldn't risk a nil with North's hand? In any case, South won the jack of clubs, cashed the ace, and played the queen to West's king. On the last two tricks, North threw the ace and jack of diamonds.

The situation looked grim to East. North no longer had a problem in clubs or diamonds, and likely had no problem in hearts. Still, the low table total suggested a 4-spade nil. In that case, there is a simple answer. Step One, East ruffed his partner's club trick with the nine of spades. Step Two, he led the six of spades.

West won the king and continued the three to East's ace. A third round of spades, won by West's eight, left one outstanding spade -- in North's hand. And there was nothing North could do about it.

The quick attack on the spade suit is important. Otherwise, bad things could happen. West might ruff the third round of diamonds with the king, and North, who had thrown two diamonds already, would underruff.