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Did you count your tricks, and count their tricks?
A very fine player in the South seat played on
diamonds at trick three, thinking that West would
never set up the queen of spades for him. But West
won the A and led the A and 10. Declarer had
only 7 tricks at this point and could lead a club to
set up his eighth. Except for one small detail: West
now had six winners: 3 spades, 2 diamonds and a club.

Today's tip is to count not only your winners but
their winners. If you can't reach your goal (making
the contract) before they reach their goal (defeating
the contract), you'd better think of a different plan.
On this hand, the right plan was to lead a heart to
the ace and a low club toward dummy. If West goes
up with the ace of clubs, you have three club tricks
and West can't set up his spade suit without giving
you your eighth trick. If West lets you win the queen
of clubs, you can revert back to diamonds and see
what he does; if he sets up your queen of spades,
fine, and if he doesn't you will have to lead a club
to the 10 and hope East holds the jack.