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 misdefend, 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!