In The Electric Woman, Marabel Morgan, an author of self-help books for married women, wrote, "Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time."

Why did she not make it excellence is the twin sister of persistence? Or one is a matter of time; the other, a matter of quality?

This is an excellent defensive deal because it requires persistence on the part of the defenders. They have to take six tricks to defeat two spades. How can they do it after West leads the heart ace?

When two spades came back to West, perhaps he should have made a second takeout double. Note that three diamonds is making, East losing two spades and two diamonds. East's club loser disappears on West's third high heart.

West leads the heart ace, under which East drops his nine, starting a high-low (echo) with his doubleton. West cashes his heart king and heart queen. What should East discard?

Since he would like a club shift, he should pitch the club eight.

West then leads his club three, the low card guaranteeing at least one honor in the suit. East wins with his ace and, although South drops a deceptive queen, returns the club two. When West takes the trick with his king, he should lead his last club, which East ruffs to defeat the contract.

West should know that South has the last club, because if East had started with four clubs, he would have returned his higher-remaining club at trick five (high-low with a remaining doubleton), not the two.