The 1 diamond response showed hearts - these transfer responses to 1 club allow weak responses with somewhat less risk than normal. Ann led a diamond to my ace, I returned a diamond to the king and a third round went to my queen. After a long think I played a heart into the ace-queen - a good try but no cigar. If declarer had held an extra spade and one less club this would have been the winning defence, but he was able to play three rounds of clubs ending in hand, cash the diamond winner and lead a spade up, making nine tricks when he guessed to play the king.
An initial heart lead would have been better and would have simplified the defence, but I should have spent more time thinking at trick 1. It would have been a good idea to play the queen on the first trick. Declarer surely has a diamond guard on the bidding and when the queen holds the first trick that has to be four or five to the jack. Now the only chance for the defence is if partner holds the ace of spades, so a spade return is marked.
Maybe this was not that easy a defence, as Dave Huggett and his partner also let Chris make 3NT for a flat board.
