The play to the first trick on this month’s hand went as quickly as last month’s hand. On the lead of the 4 of clubs, declarer called for a low club and East quickly played the King of clubs taken just as quickly by declarer with the Ace. Declarer knew he wanted to keep West off the lead and he also saw if the heart finesse worked, he would have no problems. He would be able to pitch two losers from his hand on the 4th and 5th heart. Declarer pulled trump in 3 rounds ending in his hand. He now took the heart finesse but it lost to East. East now played a low club to his partner who won and returned a diamond to beat the contract by one. Declarer should have done his thinking before
he played to the first trick. He can see that the contract makes if
the heart finesse works, but what if it doesn’t work? If East
can’t get to his partner, declarer is safe but how can he keep
East from leading a club to his partner? The answer is simple. Allow
East to win the first club trick. Now nothing can beat the contract.
Let’s say East returns a club (a trump return leads to the same
result). Declarer wins, pulls trump and takes the losing heart finesse.
East wins but has no way to get to partner. The best he can do is
cash his Ace of diamonds to hold declarer to 10 tricks.
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AT63 
AJT52
K7
95