Neither side vulnerable. West deals. NORTH S: 7 5 4 H: Q 8 7 D: J 6 4 C: 7 5 4 3 WEST EAST S: Q 10 9 6 2 S: K 8 H: 10 6 3 H: J 9 5 4 2 D: 10 9 7 D: K 5 2 C: 9 6 C: 10 8 2 SOUTH S: A J 3 H: A K D: A Q 8 3 C: A K Q J WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Pass Pass Pass 3NT Pass Pass Pass Opening Lead: S6 In a team game, a hand is played at two tables. At one table, teammates sit East-West, and at the other table, North- South. The team then compares results. If the same result was obtained each time the hand was played, then there is no score. This is rarely the case. Take this hand as an example. Both South players bid three no trump and faced a spade lead to the king. One declarer took the spade ace at trick one and, having no entry to dummy, eventually played diamonds from his hand. If West held the king of diamonds, this line would work because the jack of spades would become a second stopper in that suit. Unfortunately, the king of diamonds was with the East hand and a lead through the jack of spades defeated the contract. The other declarer ducked the king of spades and won the spade continuation with the ace. He cashed the two top hearts and three of his top clubs. He then played the ace of diamonds and the queen of diamonds. When this was allowed to hold he played the three of diamonds to the jack and East's king. East had only hearts remaining and South made two over tricks. Had West held the king of diamonds the contract would have failed. Both declarers missed a play that would virtually guarantee the contract without regard to the location of the king of diamonds. South should duck the first trick and win the sapde continuation. Three rounds of winning clubs are followed by the top two hearts. South can now play the jack of spades. West can win three spade tricks, but then must play either a heart to the queen in dummy or a diamond to declarer's ace-queen. In either case, the forced red card return ensures nine tricks. _________________________________________________________________