A nanosecond, in common usage, is an exceedingly brief amount of time. In scientific terms, it’s one-billionth of a second, equal to 1000 picoseconds. An even briefer interval is an “ohnosecond,” which is the instant when declarer plays to the first trick and then realizes he should have done something different.

Today’s North-South stopped at five clubs when they might have bid six. South had a fifth club and both major-suit aces; when North bid three diamonds and then four clubs, South might have bid slam or at least tried to get there.

South didn’t make even five clubs. When West led the king of spades, South took the ace, ruffed a spade in dummy and cashed the A-Q of trumps. When East discarded, declarer came to his jack of hearts, took his king of trumps and then tried to run dummy’s hearts. West ruffed the third heart and cashed two spades for down one.

South may have experienced an “ohno” moment at Trick One. To safeguard the contract and also have a chance for an overtrick, South should retain control by letting West’s king of spades win.

Suppose West leads another spade. South ruffs in dummy and takes the A-Q of trumps. He leads a heart to his hand, takes his king of trumps and concedes the fourth trump to West. South wins a spade return with his ace and has 11 tricks: four trumps in his hand, the ace of spades, a spade ruff in dummy, the ace of diamonds and four hearts.

At double dummy, South can succeed after he wins the first trick, but playing low is an easier route.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

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