11th December 2019


 S  Q8

 H  QJ4

 D  J764

 C  KQ54



S   J92

sq
H   A83


D   853


C    10984



  None Vul. IMPs Dealer North

South
West
North
East


Pass
Pass
1D Pass 2C Pass
2NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass



The Young Chelsea Bridge Club holds an IMP pairs event every Friday.  This event is well attended and attracts a fair smattering of the better London players.
On this deal South's two notrump rebid shows 15 to 19 points.  Partner leads the ace of spades (ace for attitude), so you encourage with the nine, since your jack will be a third round winner.  Partner now plays the king of spades, which spade do you play?

Solution
 
Counting the points it is likely that partner has nothing useful outside the spade suit.  If partner has good enough spades though you can unblock the spade jack and win the ace of hearts to play the spade two through. 


The full deal


 Dealer  N
S Q8
   
 None Vul  H QJ4
   
    D J764
   
    C KQ54
   
S AK106
    S J92
H 10962
    H A83
D 102
    D 853
C J62
    C 10983
    S 7543
   
    H K75
   
    D AKQ9
   
    C A7
   

Partner's ten and six over declarer's seven and five is just good enough!