Yes, that's how the bidding went with four reasonable club players!

Firstly, let's analyse the bidding. Since EW were playing a strong notrump, West bid 1. North overcalled 1. Although not a text-book bid and rather light on points, North's bid can do little harm in this position and may suggest a lead to South.
East has nothing to say and South kept the bidding open by showing his spade suit.
West then made the peculiar bid of 1NT. With his partner passing and no heart stop, West's bid is risky at best and foolhardy at worst. Surely he should have 16 points with a stop in the suits bid by the opponents. North and East passed and South not unreasonably doubled. West has nowhere to go and passed.
North also passed! With only 8 points North is not strong enough to leave 1NT doubled and should have bid 2.

OK so North led his fourth highest heart and North-South happily wrapped up 8 tricks for a score of 500! WRONG! What North actually did was to lead A and then K dropping his partner's Q and setting up J in dummy! He then switched to a spade and East-West had no problem making 9 tricks for a score of 580!

One more point about this hand. It was suggested that North initially leads a spade. If South wins what does he return? Looking at all four hands it's easy! Lead Q! However, put yourself in South's position. West has bid 1NT presumably showing a heart stop and the J is in dummy. In that case, if he leads Q then he would set up J! What would you lead?

Returning to what happened, the blame must lie with North. He bid badly and played even worse! This hand must surely be a contender for worst bid and played hand of the year!

Comments for beginners:
1. The reason North should bid 2 at teams of four is to stop a disaster! His hand with no entry outside hearts is likely to play far better in hearts.
2. North should expect West to have a heart stop. By playing A and then K he has virtually nil chance of making more than two tricks in his hand. North should lead his fourth highest heart and hope that South has two hearts. Then if West has only three hearts, North will make the rest of them. Even if West has four hearts then if South has the 9 or J, North will still take five heart tricks - Or will he? If West had QJxx, can you see how West could stop North from making 5 heart tricks?

Contributed by: Birchman 23/03/07