Movie #8 : page 2

There is no chance for twelve tricks without a diamond ruff, and the clubs will have to run.  Moreover, due to entry problems, there is only one position that will enable you to succeed; east must hold precisely ♠QJx, and hearts must pretty much split 4-3 as well.

The play is as follows: Diamond ace, heart to the king, low spade from dummy.  East is permitted to hold the trick when he splits his honors (it doesn't help him to duck).  Dummy wins a heart or club return, a heart is cashed if necessary, and a heart is trumped in hand.  Declarer now ruffs a diamond with the king, leads a spade to the ten, and draws the trumps.  Should east instead return a spade, declarer wins in hand, ruffs a diamond with the king, then trumps a heart and plays the ace of spades to achieve the same position.  A high diamond return makes it that much easier.  Ah, such an easy game!

At the table, south fell from grace a second time, by leading a spade toward dummy at trick two.  This gave Barry his opportunity to mis-defend, by playing his five-spot on the trump lead.  Declarer could now have recovered by inserting dummy's ♠7, but he won the king and duly went down.  Perhaps it was just as well, for no one would have enjoyed Mr. Crane's company had he incurred a -1430 on this deal.

If only all our defensive errors could be this bad!