East did well not to double the final contract. No sense in warning declarer about a foul split in trumps. West found the unfortunate lead of his fourth-best club. This was a reasonable choice, but it worked out poorly for the defense.
South won the opening club lead in hand with the jack, cashed the ace of diamonds, and ruffed a diamond. He crossed back to his hand with the king of clubs to ruff a diamond with the queen of spades. Declarer cashed the ace of clubs, discarding his low heart, and led a heart to his ace. South’s last diamond was ruffed in dummy with the king of spades.
Eight tricks had been played and South had won all of them. Both East and South were down to five trumps each with dummy on lead. A heart was led from dummy and East was helpless. Should East ruff with the three, South would over-ruff with the four and exit with a low spade. East would eventually have to give South a trick with the jack of spades. East elected to ruff the heart with the eight of spades. South over-ruffed with the jack and exited with the seven of spades.
East could cash two more high trumps, but then had to give South his tenth trick. Declarer showed his class by saving the lowly four of trumps for his winner at the end. Well done!
