ACBL14 – Declarer: Finessing Ward Trumbull
Apr 10, 2006
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What Is a Finesse?
A finesse is a way to hopefully avoid losing a trick to an opponent’s card (normally an honor) when you the declarer hold the higher and lower cards. Of course this only works when the missing card is in the opponent’s hand that is being finessed.
Example
Dummy ------------ A Q 7
Your Hand --------- 9 6 2
If you lead the 9, 6 or 2 to dummy’s queen and the missing king is
in your left hand opponent’s (LHO) hand, you have completed a
successful finesse. If the king is on your right, it will be an
unsuccessful finesse.
1. Honors in One Hand
Example 1 Example 2
Dummy ------------ A Q 9 7 5 3
Your Hand --------- 6 4 2 A K J
In the first example you play for the missing king to be on your left.
In the second example you play for the missing queen to be on
your right.
Example 1 – Lead small from your hand to the queen in dummy.
Example 2 – Lead small from dummy to the jack in your hand.
ACBL14 – Declarer: Finessing Apr 10, 2006
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2. Ace Opposite Queen
Example 1 Example 2
Dummy ------------ Q x x A x x
Your Hand --------- A x x Q x x
It is NOT a finesse in either case if you lead the queen toward the
ace. If the king is behind the queen and covers the queen (“cover
an honor with an honor”), you will only get the ace. If the king is
behind the ace, it will take the queen and you will still only get the
ace.
The correct finesse is to lead small toward the queen. Whenever
the king is in front of the queen, you will still get the ace and queen.
It improves your chances to 50/50. A safety play is to cash the ace
first in case there is a singleton king in either hand.
3. Ace, Queen and Jack without the King
Example 1 Example 2
Dummy ------------ A Q x x A x x
Your Hand --------- J x x Q J x x
In example 1, if you lead the jack and it is covered by the king, you
can only get 2 tricks (the ace and queen). If you lead small to the
queen and then cash the ace, you will get 3 tricks whenever the
LHO has the king singleton or doubleton.
In the second example, if you lead the queen and it is covered by
the king, again you will only get 2 tricks. Instead lead the jack
which might not be covered by a LHO king. Then cash the ace to
again maybe pick up a doubleton king.
ACBL14 – Declarer: Finessing Apr 10, 2006
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4. Two Way Finesse
Example 1 Example 2
Dummy ------------ A J 6 K J 10
Your Hand --------- K 10 4 A 6 4
In these two examples you can finesse either opponent for the
missing queen. In the first you can lead the 10 towards dummy
and let it ride, playing LHO for the missing queen. Or lead the jack
toward the king and take the finesse on the RHO.
In the second example it is the reverse case. Either lead small
toward the 10 (queen on left) or jack toward the ace (queen on the
right).
NOTE: The best way to play the suit in both examples is to leave
that suit till the end. You will have two things going for
you:
1. The opponents might lead that suit, and then your
problem will be solved.
2. The opponent’s play may give you a clue; such as,
discards in that suit or attitude signals in that suit.
Special Note: Before you take the finesse (whichever way you
choose), cash the high ace or king first in case
there is a singleton queen. In the first example you
would cash the ace in dummy and then lead the
jack toward your hand....OR....cash the king in your
hand and the lead the 10 towards the ace in
dummy.
ACBL14 – Declarer: Finessing Apr 10, 2006
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5. Double Finesse
Example 1 Example 2
Dummy ------------ A Q 10 x x x
Your Hand --------- x x x K J x
Instead of finessing for one honor (king in example 1 or ace in
example 2), take a double finesse. This may require leading twice
toward your honors.
In example 1 lead small to the 10. This works great if the king and
jack are ahead of the dummy. If only the king is on the left, you’ll
lose to the jack the first time. Then you’ll finesse the king the
second time. If they’re both behind the dummy, you were going to
lose them anyway.
In the second example, lead first from dummy to the jack, and then
from dummy to the king the second time.
6. Deep Finesse
Example 1 Example 2
Dummy ------------ A J x K x x
Your Hand --------- x x x A 10 x
In the first example, you’ll get the jack if the king and queen both
are on your left and you finesse to the jack. If they aren’t, you
weren’t going to get the jack anyway. Try the finesse with nothing
to lose.
In the second example, you might get 3 tricks if your RHO has both
the queen jack and goes to sleep on defense. Start by leading
small from dummy to your 10. If he/she doesn’t split the honors,
you get 3 tricks. If LHO has the queen or jack, you again would get
only 2 tricks.
NOTE: Do not cash dummy’s king first because that would alert the
RHO to split the queen/jack if he/she has them.
ACBL14 – Declarer: Finessing Apr 10, 2006
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7. Ruffing Finesse
Example 1 Example 2
Dummy ------------ K Q J x A Q J x
Your Hand --------- void x
In the first example, if the ace is behind the king, you can lead the
king and discard from your hand if RHO doesn’t play the ace. If
RHO plays the ace, you ruff it and then cross to dummy for
discards on the queen and jack.
In the second example, you decide to play RHO for the missing
king. So cash dummy’s ace and play your singleton, then do a
ruffing finesse on RHO for the king.
8. Ruffing Finesse Trickery
Example
Dummy ------------ A Q J 6
Your Hand --------- 8 3
In this example, you’re almost positive RHO has the missing king.
He/she may have bid the suit or opened 1 notrump. In any case
you’re going to lose the queen to the king unless you make RHO
think you have a singleton.
So quickly play the 8 to the ace, and then immediately lead the
queen. RHO might duck thinking you are going to ruff. Instead
play the 3 from your hand.
Remember, bridge is a game of wits as well as cards.
ACBL14 – Declarer: Finessing Apr 10, 2006
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9. If You Want.....
Everyone knows the rule of covering an honor with an honor. This is a
very good rule with few exceptions. So put it to use in your favor.
If you want to see the king, lead a queen.
If you want to see a queen, lead a jack.
Example 1 Example 2
Dummy ------------ A x x x A K x
Your Hand --------- Q J 10 x x J 10 9 x x
In example 1, you may not have to take a finesse if you lead the
queen and it is covered by the king. Lead anything smaller and
you’ll probably have to take the finesse.
In the second example, lead the jack and if not covered, play the
ace in case of a singleton queen behind the ace. Then cross back
to your hand and lead the ten. Now you decide whether or not to
finesse.
Note: Be sure to note how long it takes LHO when you initially lead
the jack.
10. Eight Ever Nine Never
This is a good rule to learn. It’s not hard-and-fast, but plays the bridge percentages. It concerns a missing queen in hands (declarer and dummy) when there are eight cards in the suit and when there are nine cards in the suit.
Eight Ever - With an eight card suit, finesse for the queen.
With no special clues that the queen is doubleton and can be picked up by cashing the ace and king, take a finesse. The finesse is a 50/50 chance; whereas a doubleton queen is only a 40% chance.
ACBL14 – Declarer: Finessing Apr 10, 2006
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10. Eight Ever Nine Never (continued)
Example
Dummy ------------ K J 4
Your Hand --------- A 9 7 5 3
Play your ace (singleton queen?) and then lead small to dummy’s
jack.
Nine Never - With a nine card suit, cash the ace and king
to drop the singleton or doubleton queen.
Example
Dummy ------------ K J 4 2
Your Hand --------- A 9 7 5 3
Play the ace and king to probably pick up the opponent’s queen.
An exceptions is when one of the opponents preempted and may not
have the queen. If you can’t finesse the other opponent, cash the ace
and king and hope for queen doubleton. Another exception is when one
opponent bid like he/she wasn’t worried about your suit. Finesse the
other opponent.
Playing the ace/king is particularly important in duplicate, because that is
what everyone else with your hand should be doing.