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

Here it is again. Don't lead your lowest card against a nil bid. Retain at least one, preferably two, lower cards for later.

Against North's nil, West led the deuce of hearts and there was no further defense. South won the second round with the ace, and North could easily duck under anything that was led. Hearts were the right suit to lead, but any other card, even the ugly-looking lead of the king, works better. Let's try it with the king.

The king holds and West continues hearts, any card but the deuce. South takes the second round with the ace and leads diamonds. West wins the ace and now plays the deuce of hearts. North covers, East discards, and South must ruff with the seven of spades. Play can vary from this point, but a typical situation has East ruffing two diamonds with middle spades to reach this ending:

North 8 5 3 -- -- -- West 10 4 6 -- -- East K 6 2 -- -- -- South A Q -- 8 --

It does not even matter who is on lead. As long as the defenders do nothing foolish, such as playing the deuce of spades too soon, North's goose is cooked. He must win the 13th trick.

On nil hands, the deuce is too valuable a card to squander recklesly. Both the nil player and the defenders must save it for the occasion when it will clearly do some good.