How many bridge players have learnt the art of the finesse but not learnt the art of not finessing?
Board 18 from Tuesday 17/01/23
Dealer East NS Vul
The almost universal contract was 4H by either North or South. The almost universal result was down one or two. In other words, a hopeless contract the way things were. Or was it?
Let’s not go into how many different paths the defence may take and for now concentrate on the heart suit. If you need TWO tricks from the suit, it really doesn’t matter how you play it. Two tricks are certain, but a third will mean one down and not two down. Most of us have learnt to finesse a suit like this by leading the queen from the North hand and hoping East has the king. That guarantees two tricks when that is the case. Often this may be a side suit where only two tricks are needed, so this is the obvious, and only, way to finesse. But this time it is the trump suit and the best chance, looking at the combined hands, to limit your trump losers is to NOT finesse in that way. Play the ace first and then lead to North’s QJ. But look at what happens when you do that. A miracle! East drops the king! Now declarer can finesse in the normal way, by leading through West’s ten and nine. With two spade entries in the South hand, two finesses can be executed and no trump losers at all and declarer makes the ‘impossible’ contract, having been resigned to playing for one down.
Funny how the best declarers so often get lucky. Were you one of them?
J862
QJ85
7
QJT4