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Declarer needs five more of the remaining eight tricks. She can spare a heart and a diamond on two more club winners, but cashing another squeezes her own hand in three suits and leads to defeat.

How might declarer have done better, despite best defence? Well the actual analysis is quite complicated, but if declarer had discarded a heart on the opening lead rather than a diamond, the defence suggested at the table would not have worked. Say declarer wins the lead, and plays clubs as before. If East end-plays herself by winning the third club, it is not good enough to exit with the K because declarer ducks! Whatever East plays then allows access to the South hand. Exiting with a low spade is also of no use for the same reason. If East had made a slight change to her actual defence, the contract is defeated whatever declarer does. East wins the second round of clubs, cashes two top hearts, and then exits with a club. Dummy must now concede two spades tricks, while declarer is still isolated from hand. Result: 3NT-1.
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