West started with two high diamonds and then a third diamond to dummy’s queen. East ruffed with the seven of hearts and South over-ruffed with the 10. Declarer led a low spade to dummy’s king and then ran the eight of hearts to West’s king. The heart return was won in dummy with the jack and South led a heart to his ace to draw the last trump.

South next cashed the ace, king, and queen of clubs and was disappointed to see that East started with four clubs. South led a spade to his jack, losing to the queen, and the contract was defeated. South was certainly unlucky, with two finesses offside and a key suit not splitting favorably, but he could have done better. Can you spot how?

Before cashing his high clubs, declarer should have cashed his last trump, discarding a low spade from dummy. Cashing the high clubs would now leave a two-card ending. When South led dummy’s last spade and East followed suit, South would know that East’s last card was a club and that the spade finesse would be pointless. He would rise with his ace, dropping the queen, and make his contract. A little lucky, perhaps, but a nice reward for well-judged play.