The Full Deal
Our opponent South faced this decision and played without thinking: King of hearts, Ace of hearts, heart, ending with only ten tricks (32% for declarer, 68% for us). Eleven tricks would have scored 66% for declarer (versus 32%), and twelve tricks would have scored 91%. Deal PS008.
Bonus from Val: Here’s another line that we like even better: take the King and Ace of hearts and, without taking the spade finesse at all, play on diamonds; the opponent with the winning trump probably will ruff in at some point, and then you can make all of your remaining trumps (two in your hand and one in dummy) separately. You will take AK of hearts, two club ruffs in dummy, two trumps in your hand, four diamonds, and Ace of spades = eleven tricks and you might get a club trick or the Queen of spades for twelve. If LHO (the overcaller) has the winning trump and ruffs in, LHO will have to lead a spade, and you can take the finesse. If RHO ruffs in, RHO will lead a club but if RHO has the Jack, your Queen-ten will produce a club trick for twelve.
To explore alternative lines of play and defense, use this link: https://tinyurl.com/tfcumhsk
Any reminders …