Deal 17
 
  3NT
♠ A 6
K 9 3
Q 6 2
♣ Q J 9 8 2
 
 WEST  NORTH  EAST  SOUTH
1♣2♠2NT
pass3NTpasspass
pass

The bidding has been as shown.
Partner led the ♠9, dummy played the ♠6 and it is your play.

When you have made your choice click NEXT .
♠ 9


♠ K 8 7 5 4 2
Q 10 4
8 3
♣ A 6
 


 

 
Deal 17
 
  3NT
♠ A 6
K 9 3
Q 6 2
♣ Q J 9 8 2
  Play the ♠8 (to signal encouragement).

You could easily win the ♠K, then play a small ♠ to drive out dummy's ♠A. But South bid Notrump over your 2♠ overcall, so he surely holds ♠ Q J 10. So when you get the lead with your one ♣A entry you can establish your ♠s, but you won't get into the lead to cash them.

Look what happens when you duck the first trick.
South will win the trick with his ♠10, and start on dummy's ♣ suit.

West (your wonderful partner) will win the first ♣ and return his final ♠ to dummy's ♠A.

South will have to keep working on ♣s, but now you can win the ♣A and play your ♠K, dropping South's ♠Q, and your other three good ♠s.

Just like the previous deal, South gets two ♠ tricks either way, but one way he makes an overtrick, the other way he goes down 2.

 Deal 18 
♠ 9 3
J 8 6 5 2
J 10 9 4
♣ K 4
♠ K 8 7 5 4 2
Q 10 4
8 3
♣ A 6
  ♠ Q J 10
A 7
A K 7 5
♣ 10 7 5 3