A Tough Defense: Solution
Declarer held the following:
A T
Q x x
Q x
A K T x x x.
If partner returns a heart, declarer will fly ace, run clubs, and (reading the position) put you in with your
K to cash a spade and lead away from your diamond holding.
Your only hope is to get a diamond shift from partner, hoping that declarer has a doubleton. If partner is smart enough to keep his long diamond in the end position, you can defeat the contract by coming down to Kx in both red suits in the four-card ending (pitching your winning spades). Your long diamond is an exit card to the setting trick.
Could your partnership accomplish this with a suit-preference small spade on the second round of clubs?
I said it was a tough defense.