More Finessing

Before reading this post make sure you know what a finesse is. Click here if you don't.

More on finessing:

Dummy
A43

Declarer:
QJT

Here Declarer has 2 tricks no matter what in this suit -- the Ace and eventually the Queen.

What happens if Declarer wants 3 tricks in this suit? Remember the finesse? They might also get an extra trick if the King is in a favourable location for Declarer.

Where does the King need to be?

The King needs to be on Declarer's left hand side.

Go grab a deck of cards and play along!

	Dummy A43
LHO K52		RHO 986
	Declarer QJT

Even with the King in the proper location Declarer still has to play well. They need to be in their hand (not Dummy) in order to take three tricks.

While in their hand they play the Queen. If LHO plays low (which they probably will) Declarer can now play low from Dummy. This will win the trick since RHO does not have the King which is the only card that can beat the Queen. Now Declarer can do this again with the Jack. If LHO plays the King on Declarer's Queen that is not a problem. Dummy can play the Ace and the Jack and the Ten in Declarer's hand are good.

What happens if Declarer plays the suit from Dummy?

You can see that no matter what card Declarer plays from Dummy the King will win a trick. If Declarer plays the Ace to start with, LHO can play their 2 and the King will win on the next trick. If Dummy plays the 4 to start with LHO will win the King right away.

What happens if the cards are laid out like this:

	Dummy A43
LHO 986		RHO K52
	Declarer QJT

In this situation there is no way to get more than 2 tricks. There is nothing you can do so it can't hurt to play the Queen and then low from Dummy. If it wins -- great! If it loses you still get two tricks and you were never going to get 3.

Examples to test your knowledge:

Grab a deck of cards and play along. Figure out the answer then play it out in real life to see if it works.

On this example you are missing the Queen. You can place her wherever you want. You are on lead and can lead a card from Dummy or from your hand. What is the best way to get three tricks from this holding?

Dummy:
AK2

Declarer:
JT9

How do you play this combination for THREE tricks.



On this example you are missing the King as well as 5 low cards in the suit. You can place those cards wherever you want. You are on lead and can lead a card from Dummy or from your hand. What is the best way to get four tricks from this holding? Once in Dummy there is no way back to your hand.

Dummy:
AQJ2

Declarer:
T98

How do you play this combination for FOUR tricks.