Neither side vulnerable. South deals. NORTH S: J 10 4 H: K 8 4 D: A K 8 5 C: 9 8 6 WEST EAST S: K 9 8 3 S: Q 6 2 H: Q 10 5 3 H: J 9 7 D: J 9 4 D: 10 6 C: A 3 C: J 10 7 4 2 SOUTH S: A 7 5 H: A 6 3 D: Q 7 3 2 C: K Q 5 SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1NT Pass 3NT (All Pass) Opening Lead: S3 The opening lead was the three spades. Declarer called for the jack from dummy. East covered with the queen and declarer ducked! The spade return at trick two sealed declarer's fate and an ice cold contract was down one. Declarer was afraid that East might hold both the king and the queen of spades. That would mean that West would have led the three of spades from a four or five card suit headed by the nine. This is very unlikely. It is much better to win the ace and clear four rounds of diamonds ending in dummy. Now lead a club toward the South hand, driving out the ace. The defense can do no better than to knock out your spade stopper and you will score two spade tricks, two heart tricks, four diamond tricks and a club for a total of nine. Think about the layout of the suit led at trick one. Play for the most likely holding and you will be right the greatest portion of the time. ____________________________________________________________________