The tale of the ten of spades.
Bridge Column for March 15, 2002, Harvey Bernstein
Neither side vulnerable.  South deals.
                              North
                              S: 10 8 5 4         
                              H: K 9 5 2     
                              D: 10 9 3    
                              C: 9 6     
            West                             East
            S: K Q J 6                       S: 9 7 3 2      
            H: Q J 8 6                       H: 10 4       
            D: 6                             D: Q 8               
            C: A K 5 4                       C: J 10 7 3 2  
                              South                         
                              S: A    
                              H: A 7 3      
                              D: A K J 7 5 4 2
                              C: Q 8      
          The Bidding:  
                  South    West    North    East                  
                   1D     Double    Pass     1S 
                   3D       3S      Pass    Pass
                   3NT      4S       5D     Pass
                   Pass    Pass     
     Thanks to Marty Baff of Beachwood for this very unusual
hand.  The bidding is normal up to the point that South bid three
no trump.  When you consider that North may have no points
whatsoever, this is a very aggressive call.  Interestingly
enough, West must lead the ace and king of clubs to defeat this
contract.  
     Four spades by West is a "phantom sacrifice".  What that
means is that since three no trump could be defeated, there is no
reason to bid an unmakeable spade contract.  
     At this point in the auction, North, who has yet to make a
bid other than pass, should continue to simply pass.  South
should double four spades for a good result.  Instead, North bids
five diamonds.  There is a term for this type of action.  It is
called "walking in front of your partner".  North really doesn't
know what is correct with his hand, and his partner still has a
bid coming.  When North bids five diamonds he is unilaterally
deciding that North-South's best result will come on offense,
when he has no way of knowing that for sure.
      The opening lead was the king of clubs, followed by the
ace.  East followed with the two to the first club and the seven
to the second.  The two of clubs said "I don't have the queen"
and the seven of clubs said "I have an even number of clubs
remaining".  At this point, West led the king of spades which
South won with the ace.
     Declarer plays six rounds of diamonds leaving this four card
ending:
                              North
                              S: 10               
                              H: K 9 5       
                              D: Void      
                              C: Void    
            West                             East
            S: Q                             S: 9            
            H: Q J 8                         H: 10 4       
            D: Void                          D: Void              
            C: Void                          C: J           
                              South                         
                              S: Void 
                              H: A 7 3      
                              D: 2            
                              C: Void
     Do you see what happens when declarer plays the last
diamond?  West has to make a discard before North and whatever he
does, Declarer will be able to take the rest of the tricks.  The
ten of spades in the North hand is the key "threat" card that
allows the contract to be made.
_______________________________________________________
Bernstein is a free-lance writer in Solon.