Another unblocking adventure

As long as we're talking about defensive unblocking, here's another hand I played online last week. I sat South (my favorite seat) and bid an optimistic 3NT, imagining that my partner's massive hand must include a spade control.

North	East	South	West
2	Pass	2	Pass
3	3	3NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

Lead:  K

North

 9 4

 J 9

 A K Q J 10

 A K Q 7

West

 K Q J 10 6 3

 7 6 4

 4 3

 9 6

East

 A 5 2

 A Q 10 8 2

 8 7 2

 5 3

South

 8 7

 K 5 3

 9 6 5

 J 10 8 4 2

In the West seat I might have overcalled in spades (2S or 3S), or at least doubled the final contract, but our opponent did neither. We had no spade stopper. The opponents could have neatly taken six spade tricks off the top, but they blocked themselves. East played low on the king and queen of spades, then won the third round with the ace. Her ace of hearts won the fourth trick, but she couldn't get back to her partner's good spades, so I claimed the rest: nine solid tricks in the minor suits.

If only East had overtaken the first spade with her ace, and then led back a low spade to West's remaining winners (possibly cashing the heart ace first), we would have gone way down. Remember to unblock, people! Win with the high cards on the shorter side first.