Listen to the signs; they give the answer

Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right." It helps to have a positive attitude. Anyone who thinks he cannot make a contract will usually not be "disappointed."

In today's deal, though, the key decision comes at trick one. What should West lead against four spades after the given auction?

North showed a game-invitational hand with exactly three-card spade support. Note that it was advantageous that North could show his good diamond suit, so that in a borderline case, South would have been able to make an informed decision. Also, North-South could have stopped in two spades. Using two-over-one game-force, North must start with one no-trump forcing, then jump to three spades over South's two-heart rebid. This would be doubly less satisfactory.