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Finessing (continued to conclusion)

Let us continue to look at a range of finesse positions.

You will have gathered by now that with only one honour missing, we try to avoid losing any tricks at all, although this may not always be possible. When two or more honours are missing, we usually need to lose one trick anyway.

Lead twice from right-hand, finessing the Jack first and then the ten, and unless both King and Queen are in North's hand (only a 25% chance), you will make the Ace and one of the other two honours (75% chance).

This one is deceptive:-

Lead small from right-hand, finessing the Queen, and then lay down the Ace, hoping to find the King doubleton with south. If you lead the Jack, South will cover and you will only make two tricks where-ever the King is.

Sometimes you have choices:-

You can lead the Queen from right-hand, pinning the king with South. You will only take two tricks this way, but you won't lose any. Alternatively, you can play small from left-hand towards the Q J, losing one trick to the King where-ever it is, but having a good chance of taking three tricks. Your decision here would depend on whether you can afford to lose a trick, and who you think has the King (clues from the bidding?).

Very often, if you can force defenders to play one of these suits for you, it saves you taking a finesse. The classic is:-

If they won't  open up this suit for you, work on the principle that unwary defenders often produce their Queen when the Jack is led. So, lead the Jack from left-hand. If the Queen appears, your problems are over. If  North doesn't play the Queen, work on the assumption that she hasn't got it. Overtake your Jack with your Ace, and lead the 10 from right-hand, letting it run if the Queen doesn't appear. If North takes this trick with the Queen, say well-done through gritted teeth.

Finesses can, of course, be taken with smaller cards.

In this case, lead the Queen, and if covered by the King, take it with the Ace. Then finesse  the 9 against South's (hoped-for) 10.

Sometimes very small cards may be involved. Suppose that A K Q J 10 9 8 7 have all gone on the first two tricks, and you have:-

You can play the 6 and hope that the 3 and the 5 fall, or you can finesse the 4 against South's 5 if you think she has both missing cards.

Sometimes, the opponents initiate a finesse for you:-

If North leads a small card in this suit, let it run round to your Queen. You will win the trick when North has the King, and this was a finesse that you were going to take anyway. This last one is similar:-

If South leads a small card, let it run round to your Queen. You are then guaranteed  two tricks in this suit.

What I suggest you do now is go away and play for six months or so, and practice your finessing in real situations using the principles outlined above. Then come back and try the finessing quiz to see how securely those principles are in place and working.

When you are ready, have a look at these practise hands which encompass concepts from all aspects of declarer play.