BRIDGE NOTES: Good but not enough

When played between the top notch internationals, bridge standard rises to its apex. For then the battle is not only for ascendancy in the particular match played but for the ascendancy in the standard bridge displayed. For there is nothing more exhilarating or satisfying than to win applause and recognition for the exemplary way in which each card is handled.
And as the battle escalates, so does the standard of bridge. Each player is at his peak of concentration, fully alert and mentally prepared to find adequate moves and counter moves.
Today's example is from a hand played many years ago by experts who were invited to Deauville in July 1970 to participate in a competition that was tough as was being played between the top most players of the world. It was but expected therefore that the standard of bridge display would be of the highest standard with the margin of error almost negligible. Being a high tension game where only nerves of steel with a cooler head would win the day, all the bridge players were on their toes to do their best. The north south hands are given as under along with the bidding:
The opening lead from west is the QD. Winning in hand, south lays down the king of hearts, both defenders following and shifts to a spade, west playing, low wherein the dummy's KS wins the trick.
The crucial point of play is now reached. Put yourself in the south seat and try to figure out how south can manage 12 tricks, looking to the fact that the 2 spade losers in his hand on the face of it have no escape making the little slam very difficult to manage especially in lien of fact that on the table, the defenders are very classy players of great repute who will not give the declarer any margin or breathing space to make his contract.
This is an example of both the highest standard of table play as well as of defence was displayed at both the tables where at one table the little slam came home with impeccable play and failed in the other room with an equally impeccable defense. This is therefore, a classic example of a brilliant stroke in play pitted against an equally brilliant counter stroke by the defense.
Let us first lift the curtain on the expertise of play and see whether one could spot the line toed by the actual declarer in his attempt to make 6H. We can now reveal the total hand as well.
After the KS won in dummy, our expert sitting south drew trumps and played off the KC. He came up in hand with a diamond ace, cashed his AC, ruffed his last diamond thus eliminating the minors to bring about some sort of endplay by exiting with a spade to west's ace who was truly end played. With only the minor suits left he had to concede a ruff and a discard in dummy from hand - which was what the declarer had hoped for a - a classic strip and end play to execute in the making of 6H.
But can you guess what happened at the other table where an identical plan was in the offing. But the defense was equally brilliant too. It had a deadly counter in the offing. Can you guess it? yes, - if you have, you are as brilliant as Victor Mitchell, the expert sitting west. You see bridge is all about anticipation and foresight. The table presence is vital with full concentration and focus as to what the declarer is trying to achieve in the making of his contract. West saw through declarer's plan to end play him and struck a deadly counter blow by jettisoning AS on the second trump played by the declarer. The declarer's goose was now cooked. The spade loser had no escape. The little slam came tumbling down. The declarer play was too good at one table but yet not good enough at the other.

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North      South

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K8532       1064

A8532      KQJ97

   86        AK3

    K         AJ

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North     West     East    South

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K8532      A7      QJ9      1064

A8532       4      106     KQJ97

   86   QJ952     1074       AK3

        98763   Q10542        AJ

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The bidding:

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South   West     North   East

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1H        P       1S        P

2NT       P       4H        P

6H       ALL      PASS

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