BRIDGE NOTES: It takes a good detective

Defence in Bridge is tough when there is no clear line to toe. True, the bidding is the only available life line for the defence. But still the defenders need to be on their toes, and ready to take their chances as and when provided. In out illustration for today, north south reach 6S on the following bidding:
This was high stake bidding with NS reaching a little slam despite the opening from east who could not let this challenge from NS go unpunished. So he doubled the contract holding the following hand:
Holding 2 aces and a void in hearts, east was pretty well contented and happy to double hoping for a heart ruff and the 2 tricks in the black aces to gain a 300+ for 2 down doubled. But there was more to it than meets the eye. When west duly led the AH, the following dummy jolted east outright when he looked at the far too many hearts and all top honors of diamonds in the dummy spread as under on his right:
Now let us put the reader to test by letting him hold the eastcards. How as east would you now plan your defence?
Who could imagine that although east opened ID which was normal, the dummy would come up with a massive solid 5 trick diamond hand full of all 5 honours. One can also well imagine what a predicament north must have faced keeping a silent facade on the extra ordinary bidding taking place on his left and right in the red suits holding both 5-5. To add to the fireworks his partner was on the most aggressive path by bidding 6S almost single-handed not caring or knewing whether dummy could provide him with a trick or not. But then south's 6S was to the bracketed more as a sacrifice against what he thought would be a cold 6H slam for east west.
But let us get on with the problem at hand. With 2 aces, sitting east holding the above cards, your double seems justified but only if you succeed in downing the contract. On the surface the contract looks doomed with 3 aces in the bag. The stakes were high in the actual All American Tournament and this deal could be the deciding one. Well, what have you planned as a signal to partner. If you have planned to discard a club-obviously a high one-QC. But if you have done so, I am afraid you have blown up your defence for south held the following hand:
That is why defence needs alertness and foresight. Your instinctive discard on your partner's AH was quite contrary to what the bidding had clearly forecast. All you had to do was to first asses as to how many trumps southheld. Surely not less than 8. This would mean that your partner is void in spades - a fact more emphasised in conformity with his bid of 6H. After all how many hearts is west likely to hold for his 6H bid. Surely not less than 8, which means that the declarer is certain to be void in hearts as would be in consistency with his bidding of 6S over 6H. What does his all add upto? Dummy's diamond suit will surely provide declarer with parking space for 4 losers if he has a singleton diamond, for west with no spade, 8 hearts can have 4 clubs and a diamond.
This was a momentous decision for east at trick 1 only. Yes, the winning defence was to ruff partner's AH and cash AC before it was too late. In such a tense situation, many easts would have fallen as you may have too by not ruffing. But then to unravel a mystery, it takes a good detective!

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S      W    N     E

-      -    -    1D

4S    6H    P     P

6S    P     P   Dbl

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      A 6 2

          -

9 8 6 4 3 2

   A Q J 10

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K Q J 10 9 8 5 4

               -

               5

         9 7 5 2

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Dummy

        7 3

  9 7 6 4 2

 A K Q J 10

          4

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          E

      A 6 2

9 8 6 4 3 2

   A Q J 10

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