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

Although the standard lead convention is the top card of a sequence, in second or third position you play the lowest of touching honors. I used to assume everyone knew this.

North took the first two club tricks and switched to a diamond. West won two tricks and tried to cash a third, but South ruffed. South now led a low spade, the start of the winning plan. West played low, and North inserted the king.

By South's methods, this card absolutely denied possession of the queen. Furthermore, after East had won the ace of spades, South was convinced that Pard must hold the ace of hearts to account for his four-bid. East tried to cash the queen of clubs but South ruffed, leaving the following cards, North-South having taken four tricks to East-West's three:

North Q 4 10 8 5 -- 7 West 10 J 9 6 3 3 -- East 8 5 A Q 6 J South J 9 K 7 4 2 -- --

We can see that the winning line for South starts with a low spade to the queen. But North had misrepresented his hand. Accordingly, South led a low heart to North's presumed ace.

East won the queen, cashed the ace, and led his last club. South ruffed with the nine but West overruffed. Finally, a third heart was trumped by East for the setting trick.

If North had followed the standard playing convention and played his queen when South first led spades, there is still no guarantee that South would find the right continuation. But at least he would not have been smoothly guided into the wrong strategy.