George Carlin, a comedian, actor and author who died in 2008, said, “If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten.”

Today’s North-South hands, the contract of three no-trump and West’s lead of the spade five are the same as yesterday’s. Then, when declarer played dummy’s queen, it held the trick. Today, East takes the queen with his ace and returns the spade 10 (high from a remaining doubleton). How should South plan the play?

Declarer starts with eight top tricks: one spade, three hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. A ninth trick is sure to come from clubs or might appear from hearts if the suit splits 3-3.

First, declarer should duck the second trick to cut the communications between the defenders. After East wins that trick and leads a third spade, how should South continue?

East’s carding implies that spades are 5-3, not 4-4. So declarer must strain to keep West off the lead.

After winning the third spade, South plays off his top hearts, hoping for a 3-3 break. When that does not work, declarer should cash his club ace and king, not take the finesse. Here, the queen drops, and South is home with an overtrick. But if the club queen does not appear, declarer leads a third club, hoping that East has to win the trick. It is an example of avoidance play.

Finally, note that if South had played dummy’s spade six at trick one, East would have put in his 10, not won with the ace. When dummy has a queen or king like this, East should (almost always) keep his ace to squash that high honor.