North-South vulnerable.  
North deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 3                 
                              H: J 6         
                              D: A J 10 9 7 6 3
                              C: A J 2   
            WEST                             EAST
            S: K J 7 6 5 4                   S: Q 9 8       
            H: 8 5 3                         H: A K 10     
            D: K 8                           D: Q 4 2             
            C: 10 4                          C: 9 8 7 6     
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: A 10 2
                              H: Q 9 7 4 2  
                              D: 5             
                              C: K Q 5 3
	The Bidding:    
                  NORTH    EAST    SOUTH    WEST                  
                   1D      Pass     1H       2S 
                   Pass    Pass     2NT     Pass
                   3NT     Pass     Pass    Pass
	Opening Lead: 10C
     The action that you don't take is every bit as important as
the action that you do take.  This hand is proof of that axiom. 
The competition was teams and West had to make an opening lead. 
It is obvious that a spade lead will destroy the three no trump
contract.  West decided, based on the auction, that the first
spade lead should come through South and so started with the ten
of clubs.
     South took some time to evaluate his chances and then called
for the ace of clubs.  East followed with the seven.  Afterwards,
discussion would indicate that East was planning to play the six
of clubs at the next opportunity to show an even number of clubs,
in this case, four.  While opinions vary on this point, I would
vote for the six of clubs first as an attitude card.  The first
obligation when defending against no trump is to try to
communicate your attitude regarding the opening lead, which in
this case is negative.
     At trick two declarer called for the jack of hearts from
dummy.  East played the king which won the trick.  The queen of
spades was led and ducked all around.  The nine of spades came
next, covered by the ten and the jack.  The ace and eight of
spades were still "at large" and West was certain that they were
both in the South hand.  Why would West come to that
conclusion?
     East had already shown up with the queen and nine of spades
as well as the king of hearts and by implication, the ace of
hearts.  At favorable vulnerability, with three spades to an
honor, one could assume that partner would raise spades once
during the auction.  Partner's failure to do this tends to
indicate some other holding.  For the record, I would find a
spade raise with honor doubleton and an outside ace-king
combination.
     West, not wishing to lead a spade into South's presumed
ace - eight tenace, led another club and declarer was able to
bring home a total of nine tricks; four clubs, a diamond, a
spade, and three hearts.
     All that is required is that East bid three spades after
partner's two spade call.  North-South will likely play a diamond
partial.  If they decide to risk three no trump they will be
defeated with a spade opening lead.
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