NORTH:    A 10 9 8

WEST:    ? ? ? ? ? ?                                  EAST:   ? ? ? ? ? ?

                              SOUTH:     Q J 6

Question: How do you play the Spade suit to avoid losing a trick?

Answer: You lead towards the Ace.

1. If you lead the A or lead away from the Ace you are definitely going to lose a trick
2. If the King is in the East hand you will always lose a trick to it
   ( unless it is on its own but that is unlikely )
3. However if West has the King and you are careful you can avoid losing a trick.
4. Play the Queen towards the Ace. If West plays a low card play low from dummy.
5. If the Queen loses to the King there is nothing you could have done about it
6. However if it wins repeat the process by playing the Jack towards the Ace. If that wins play your small spade and will end up taking all four tricks.
7. Did you see why you played the Queen first rather than a small spade?
8. Playing the Queen made sure that if you won the first trick you were still in the South hand ready to try again.