A deal from a recent Gold Cup match between Raymond Semp's Manchester team and a Westmorland team captained by Michael Rothwell.  In both rooms a spade partial was declared by South and in both rooms the diamond queen was led.

The Westmorland declarer won with the ace and played ace and another spade, West won and played another diamond which East won with the jack and gave West a diamond ruff.  West cashed the spade king and switched to a heart which was won in dummy followed by a club to the ace and the jack of clubs.  East forced declarer with the heart king and when clubs failed to break finished one down.

The Manchester declarer followed the sound policy of setting up the main side suit, before tackling a precarious trump position, by winning the diamond ace and playing ace and a small club.  East exited with the spade three which declarer won in hand, then cashed the club jack discarding the diamond ten.  East's failure to ruff revealed the black suit distribution.  Then came a heart to the ace followed by a heart ruff, a diamond to the king and another heart ruff, followed by the club ten leaving West and North with just trumps and North bound to make another trick, so ten tricks in total and a difference of three tricks in the final result.

Thanks to Raymond Semp for reporting this deal.