Original problem—
3NT South
South made his/her contract with two ♠️s, four ♥️s, two ♦️s, and one ♣️.
Could the defense have done better?
Solution–
In no trump contracts, a common strategy is for declarer to hold up a stopper and thereby disrupt the transportation between the defenders. This hand is basically the same thing only by the defense. Let’s look at just the heart suit.
West needs to duck the first ♥️ trick (9♥️) and save her/his K♥️ for declarer’s 2♥️. The K♥️ thus prevents declarer from getting to dummy’s ♥️ suit. With this defense North/South can be held to eight tricks—two ♠️s, two ♥️s, two ♦️s, and two ♣️s. At the other table North/South were in 4♥️s going down one. West’s failure to hold up the K♥️ resulted in an 11 IMP swing.
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