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Andrew:
The positional factor
A finesse is an attempt to promote a card (or cards) in a suit, when a higher card (or cards) is missing. The key is the relative position of the higher card. But contrast:
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Deal i) |
Deal ii) |
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K Q J |
K Q 5 |
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4 3 2 |
4 3 2 |
In (i) there is no positional factor. Whichever opponent holds the ace, you must score two tricks. You can lead towards the king-queen- jack or simply lead one of the honours.
In (ii) there is a positional factor. You can lead the king (queen) to force out the ace, and so promote the other honour. But if you wish to try to promote both your honours, you must rely on finessing technique. You must start from the opposite hand to the honours, leading to the queen (king), and hoping that the missing ace is in the hand of the opponent playing second (a 50-50 proposition). Say he holds the ace and plays low. Your queen wins the trick. You must now cross back to hand (in another suit) and lead towards the king. You have promoted both the honours.
Our featured deal saw declarer promote all three of dummy’s heart honours by leading three times from the opposite hand. His technique was perfect - and he was fortunate to have three entries to his hand to execute the manoeuvre.
Click here to play this hand
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South Deals None Vul |
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| West | North | East | South |
| 1 N | |||
| Pass | 3 N1 | Pass | Pass |
| Pass |
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| 3 NT by South |
| Lead: ♣ 3 |
Declarer won the club lead with the king, and led a heart to dummy’s jack, winning the trick as West held the ace. He next crossed to the queen of diamonds and led a second heart to the queen, West ducking again (best). He followed by crossing to his ace of diamonds, and leading a third heart towards the king. This time West took his ace and led a second club. Declarer won the ace, crossed to the king of diamonds, cashed the promoted king of hearts, and scored his ninth trick with the ace of spades. Game made.
Note that had declarer lazily led a top heart from dummy, he would only have scored two tricks in the suit. He would have had to rely on a 3-3 split to score dummy’s five as a length winner. Not this time.
