North: ATx
AKQ
West: Q97 A8x KJ865
98xx K874 JTx
KT2 J9x
JTx 32 Qx
xxx
Q543
A9xx
The lesson plan mandated 4th best spade won by west's Q and continued, then east clearing the suit to big guy's ace. The gold stars went to norths thst took all his/her herts then banged out the clubs catching west to lead out to the diamondqueen after collecting the thirteener heart ( 1 spade, 3 hearts, 3 clubs, and [WHEW] TWO diamonds == nine..
veere had a better idea, and i wonder if it is an absolute killer...:
If you are suggesting that Vee, upon winning the second spade, shifted to the 
J, to set up two defensive diamonds, and then wait for the club. Then yes, she found a killing defense. Whether it is findable at the table by most defenders is certainly questionable.
The argument against is, the spades will set up and the 
Q could become an entry. The argument against is, even though the spades set up, the Q is unlikely to become an entry, but if partner has Jxx in clubs, that might turn into an endplay card, so I need to lead a diamond to ruin the endplay. To break up the endplay, partner needs to hold KTx(x), so I need to lead the J to clue partner into the situation.
If I were scoring the event, I would still give full credit to the declarer if the defender found this defense. But I would give extra kudos to the defender for finding the surrounding play that defeats the contract legitimately. A well deserved wd to Vee, if this was her defense, and a thank you to Jock for bringing this to IAC's attention.
As mentioned, I declared this, receiving the spade lead and the heart switch. Not that if spades are continued at T2, and if I play the T, my Lho wins and is free to shift to a D. Is he apt to? Probably not but the auction has been NT-3C-3D-3NT (regular Stayman, not Puppet). Let's call me North (since I am). Assume T2 is another spade, my T, E's J. Ecan surely place me with an initial spade holding of ATx. W would hardly dold on to the A, blocking the suit, and I am know to hold at most three spades so that's that, I started with ATx. N is also known to hold a 20 9or 21) count from the auction (sure, some fake a point, but DARE hands rarely if ever include that). E has seen the spade Q so he knows W has at most 4 more points.
E can ask himself what these points are and whether he will be getting in again, assuming that he, E, continues spades.. Not likely, as you say.
Maybe W holds the C K. W holds the C K
E's clubs are actually Q3, not something like QT so he can expect that if W holds the club K then declarer can lead a small club from hand and, if E plays low, declarer will lose a club to W. Further, if W holds the club K then he will not be holing the D K, so he has D tricks at hand.
And if W holds the H K it's even worse for the defense since it will be finessable and N will be holding both minor suit kings.
Thus, if the play begins spade to the Q, spade back to my T and E's J, E needs to place W with the diamond T.
The case for a D switch is hardly airtight, but it is looking better. The defense has two spades, it now tries for two Ds and a club.
Possible. I agree not clear cut, but possible
The actual effect of the heart switch at T2 was this: I now have time to play for nine tricks by assuming the D K is on my left. It isn't, but I have a decent play for nine tricks if it is. Probably best if, at T3, I lead a small D. Assuming the D K is on my left I now have a reasonable shot at nine tricks.
So after spade and a spade, a third spade pretty much forces me to play for the D K to be on my right, where it is. The H switch allows me to play for it to be where it isn't, on my left.
An intersting hand.
