This deal came up in a team game.

East opened 1 diamond , South made a pre-emptive bid of 3 spades, showing a long suit and a non-opening hand, and North had an easy raise to 4 spades. The lead was the same at both tables, the 3 of diamonds.

Both declarers took it with dummy’s Ace and led the Jack of trumps. After winning the Ace of trumps, both East players continued with a high diamond.

At the first table, declarer recognised that the opening lead was either the third-highest or a singleton. As the former was far more likely, declarer ruffed the diamond with the 9 of trumps.

Alas, West overruffed with the 10 and led a heart to the King and Ace. A third round of diamonds gave declarer no winning option: no matter whether he ruffed high or low, the 8 of trumps would be the setting trick.

At the second table, declarer came to the same conclusion about the diamond suit but, instead of ruffing the second round of diamonds, he threw away his losing heart. After ruffing the next diamond with the 9 of trumps West over-ruffed with the 10, but with the heart entry to the East hand severed there was now no way to defeat the contract.

Really well thought out by declarer.