The Full Deal
Our opponent South bid only three spades, and that decision was very expensive; it allowed EW to bid three notrump (making four), and North probably would have made four spades; on the normal club lead, North should play to ruff all four clubs in the South hand, taking ten tricks. Minus 630 scored only 15% for NS, and plus 420 would have scored 87%.
Bonus from Val: Four spades was the contract at 51 of 135 tables, but only 24 declarers made the contract. Most of the unsuccessful declarers drew trumps, not noticing the need to ruff clubs in the dummy. Regarding South’s decision at the end of the auction, I find that usually, when vulnerable opponents bid like this, they expect to make their contract, and South can be quite confident that four spades doubled will be down two or less, so I think South should have taken this second opportunity to bid four spades. Note that East can hold declarer to nine tricks by leading the singleton Queen of trumps. Deal C015.
To explore alternative lines of play and defense, use this link: https://tinyurl.com/j8cuh76e
To consider what might happen if South raises immediately to four spades as recommended, turn the page.