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The killing defense is to return a diamond. Partner
ruffs and exits with a heart or a club. Declarer is
stuck in his hand and must lead the spade ace
and another spade. You win the king and play a third
round of diamonds while you still have a trump in
your hand. Dummy is now dead and you must come
to a club trick.

If you found that defense, don't show up at my
rubber bridge game, please. In real life, no one
found this defense. At two tables where the contract
was 4, both Easts returned a heart at trick two. A
low trump was led to the jack and king, and East
shifted to a low club. But the declarers finessed the
queen, led a trump to dummy, a heart ruff back to
hand, and cashed the ace of trump. Then a diamond
was ducked to East and declarer had 10 tricks.

Today's tip is really about the auction, and far more
practical than the defensive brilliance that few would
find with the East cards: When you hold a two honors doubleton, treat it as three-card support. And here's
a Happy New Year extra tip: When you hold six
diamonds to two of the top three honors, at favorable vulnerability, try to mention the suit somewhere
along the line!