In an online game, my three-heart bid showed values (I would have bid two no-trump, Lebensohl, with a bad hand), so partner could plow on to game. (A cue bid, exploring for three no-trump, was an option, but all routes would have led to four hearts on this deal.)
The defense kicked off with three rounds of spades, the best start for them. I had to avoid a second heart loser, and one option was to play for exactly K-Q in the West hand. If East held a doubleton, a fourth spade trick would promote the heart 10. Another option was to cash the ace, hoping for a singleton honor with West, but that was unlikely here, and it would not work against a forcing defense.
A better bet was to start with a low heart from dummy, intending to run it if East followed small. I would then lead the jack from hand, squashing 10-doubleton with East. This line would also pick up honor-10 doubleton if I guessed it. The intra-finesse has the odds in its favor and would also yield better copy!
I ruffed the third spade trick in hand and then crossed to a top diamond to advance the heart seven. East dove in with the king and led a fourth spade, which I ruffed with the five. West correctly discarded, so I advanced the heart jack, squashing East’s 10 to bring home the game.
It might have been better for East to play low on the first heart. I would then have to guess whether to play for an initial K-10 or 10-x with East. Eric Rodwell nicknamed this play from 10-x the “intra-pop.”