Triple squeeze witout the count

[Dave Flower]

This was hand 9 last Thursday at Banbury:

K 6
A J 5
A K 4
A 10 8 6 4
Q J 10 9 8 A 4 2
10 9 3 8 7 6 2
9 8 6 5 Q J 3
2 K Q 5
7 5 3
K Q 4
10 7 2
J 9 5 3

The bidding was short and sweet:

N E S W
1C pass 2C pass
3NT all pass

A spade lead defeats 3NT easily, but, not unexpectedly, East led a heart. Club and heart tricks were exchanged, and the following position was then reached as North ran the established clubs:

K 6
-
A K 4
10 (Led)
Q J 10 9 8 A 4
- 8
9 Q J 3
-
7 5 3
-
10 7 2
-

East is squeezed in three suits:
- If East discards a spade, North leads a spade
- If East discards a heart, North plays three rounds of diamonds
- If East discards a diamond, N/S have three diamond tricks

At the table, East discarded a spade in tempo; North, misreading the situation cashed the diamonds for one down.