A clear map helps the declarer

David Letterman quipped, "Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees."

This is my favorite defense deal that I use in classes. South ends in two spades, leaving East-West needing six tricks to defeat the contract. How can they do it?

In the auction, West would have done well to double again on the second round because East-West can make three diamonds with the trumps splitting 2-2. But that is far from clear-cut, especially at the prevailing unfavorable vulnerability - and would have ruined a good story.