At unfavorable vulnerability in a team game, as West, you decide not to stick your neck out with a 2 bid because even if you escape going for a number, you will only help the opponents play the hand.
| East | South | West | North |
| Pass | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Pass | 4 | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
You are on lead to 4. You cash the AK and Pard plays the T, 6 playing Upside Down Count and Attitude. What do you do at trick three?
Dummy is far from overwhelming. Still, any lead can cost the defense a trick. A spade gives them a ruff/sluff so that is out. A heart lead gives the opponents a finesse if Pard has the K. A diamond lead could give the opponents a guess in that suit. A club lead could give the opponents a trick in a frozen suit situation. What is best?
If Pard has the K, the contract is likely makeable regardless, as dummy is likely to have an entry with the Q. Thus, a neutral heart return seems best. Declarer can still make the hand by guessing to play East for the doubleton 10, but that is against the odds. After pulling trump, declarer played AK and a third diamond. That line of play would make the contract with doubleton Qx or 3-3 diamonds and a forced club return, and successful guess. Because the lie of the diamonds was not as hoped, declarer went down. At the other table the T was returned at trick three, which made the hand easy for declarer.
Here is the full deal: