Robert Bresson, a French film director who died in 1999, said, “When you do not know what you are doing and what you are doing is the best – that is inspiration.”

West was inspired in today’s deal from a social game. Look only at the West hand and the auction. What would you lead against three no-trump?

South had a tough rebid. There was nothing like Goldilocks’ porridge – perfect. Most players would have chosen three diamonds, but that would have been a slight underbid – mama bear’s porridge. The chosen three no-trump was a tad of an overbid – papa bear’s porridge. Three no-trump would typically include an extra high card, perhaps the club queen, a slightly stronger (or longer) diamond suit and often only a singleton heart. Now North understandably passed, although if he had known about the doubleton support opposite, he would have retreated to four hearts. (See tomorrow’s column.)

Many players would have led the spade three, fourthhighest from the longest and strongest. However, then declarer would have had no trouble. He would have won with dummy’s queen, perhaps tested the diamonds to check that they were running, and driven out the spade ace to establish nine tricks: two spades, six diamonds and one club.

Instead, somehow West came up with the inspired club 10! South covered with dummy’s jack and took East’s queen with his ace. Then, when declarer led a low spade, West shot in with the spade ace and continued with the club eight to pin South’s seven. Now the contract went down two, the defenders taking one spade, one heart and four clubs. South had no chance.