ACBL14 – Declarer: Finessing Ward Trumbull

Apr 10, 2006

Page 1 of 7


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

Page 2 of 7

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

Page 3 of 7


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

Page 4 of 7

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

Page 5 of 7


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

Page 6 of 7


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

Page 7 of 7


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.