[Echognome]

Scoring: IMP

(1♣) - 1♥ - (1♠) - P
(1NT) - Dbl - (P) - 2♦
(2♠) - All Pass

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The auction is as above. Perhaps you don't agree with double, but it was your choice at the table. Partner leads the ♥8 to dummy's K. You play standard leads and signals. Plan the defense.

[brianshark]

If declarer has ♠ATxxx and ♣Qxx then the only defense is hoping that P has a singleton heart. So win with ♥A, cash ♦K and ruff ♥, cross to ♦A, ruff ♥, ruff ♦. (Or something like that)

On the other hand, if P has ♣QJ or QT, and a doubleton ♥, then the only defense that can let it in is by winning opening lead and ♥ back or allowing myself be end-played later in the play.

But I think it unlikely that declarer has 4 ♥s, or that P has the ♣Q.

However, if P has the ♠T, then all I need him to have is ♣JT or J9, then declarer has 4 ♠ tricks and 2 ♣ tricks... so as long as I keep him to 1 ♥, then we knock the contract.

But I can't see any way to avoid being end-played (or giving up a ♦ trick) by a sufficiently expert declarer. I must be missing something...

So I guess at the table, I'd play for scenario B/C, by ducking the opening lead to give the declarer every chance of making some sort of mistake. But I don't know what's the theoretical best defence.