Many Spades players have the habit of shedding middle cards early in play to avoid bags at the finish. This may be sound strategy when the table total is 11 tricks or less, but it is unwise when the total is 12. In this situation, never casually throw middle cards. To help players remember this principle, I have coined The Rule of Twelve. "Twelve call, take all!"

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

East could not nil, so his minimal bid brought the table total to 12. South took one high club and shifted to the ace of hearts. On this trick North dropped the eight, in accordance with his bag-avoiding habits. South continued the nine of hearts to the ten, queen and king. Suddenly, East's seven and six were boss cards!

When East led the heart seven, South was truly fixed. If he ruffed he'd be overruffed and lose his spade winner. If he discarded West would throw his last club and deny South his ace of clubs. North-South were held to five tricks.

There would be no problem if North had played the deuce of hearts on the first round of the suit. When East makes his king and leads the seven, South simply discards. West also discards, denying South his second club winner, but this trick comes back immediately as North unexpectedly wins this round with the eight of hearts.