diff --git a/lib/mcp/board_client.dart b/lib/mcp/board_client.dart
index bed0930..276749c 100644
--- a/lib/mcp/board_client.dart
+++ b/lib/mcp/board_client.dart
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ class BoardClient {
   }
 
   /// Clicks Start on the note's last startable item titled [title]. With
-  /// [sections], first waits until the board shows the note's last section
-  /// (`<id8>-<sections - 1>`), since a merge just added it.
+  /// [sections], that is the note's last section (`<id8>-<sections - 1>`),
+  /// which a merge just added: waits until the board shows it.
   Future<StartResult> start(
     String noteId,
     String title, {
@@ -85,9 +85,11 @@ class BoardClient {
       bool seen(List<Map<String, dynamic>> cs) =>
           last == null || cs.any((c) => c['id'] == last);
       final cards = await _until(noteId, seen);
-      // Never an older same-titled item in place of the merged one.
+      // Exactly the merged item: never an older same-titled one, which the
+      // board may list last (it orders by column, T1866).
       final card = seen(cards)
           ? cards.reversed
+                .where((c) => last == null || c['id'] == last)
                 .where((c) => c['title'] == title && _startable(c))
                 .firstOrNull
           : null;
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index 60ceda1..2838e2e 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ publish_to: 'none' # Remove this line if you wish to publish to pub.dev
 # https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/General/Reference/InfoPlistKeyReference/Articles/CoreFoundationKeys.html
 # In Windows, build-name is used as the major, minor, and patch parts
 # of the product and file versions while build-number is used as the build suffix.
-version: 1.0.64+1
+version: 1.0.65+1
 
 environment:
   sdk: ^3.12.2
diff --git a/test/mcp/board_client_test.dart b/test/mcp/board_client_test.dart
index ebd0407..f2b1a52 100644
--- a/test/mcp/board_client_test.dart
+++ b/test/mcp/board_client_test.dart
@@ -158,6 +158,24 @@ void main() {
     expect(b.posts, isEmpty);
   });
 
+  test('T1866: starts the merged item, not a re-startable older one', () async {
+    // The board lists by column: a cancelled older item may come last.
+    final b = _Board([
+      _card('cccccccc-0', 'Młody'),
+      _card('cccccccc-2', 'Młody'),
+      _card('cccccccc-1', 'Młody', column: 'done'),
+    ]);
+    final r = await b.client().start(_id, 'Młody', sections: 3);
+    expect(r, (ok: true, reason: null, item: 'cccccccc-2'));
+    final other = _Board([
+      _card('cccccccc-1', 'Młody', column: 'done'),
+      _card('cccccccc-0', 'Młody', start: false),
+    ]);
+    final none = await other.client().start(_id, 'Młody', sections: 1);
+    expect(none.reason, 'no startable item');
+    expect(other.posts, isEmpty);
+  });
+
   test('T1864: a slow Start that took effect is ok, not unreachable', () async {
     final b = _Board([_card('cccccccc-0', 'Młody')])
       ..postDelay = const Duration(milliseconds: 200);