Finesse for a King?

Each of these slam contracts has a similar trump holding with a potential finesse for the king.
As South, see if you can find the winning plays.

Problem 1

IMPs	A 6 5 4			West	North	East	South
None vul	A K 5 4						1
	4			Pass	1	Pass	1
	J 7 5 4			Pass	3	Pass	4
				Pass	4	Pass	5
Lead: K		East plays 6		Pass	5	Pass	5 NT
				Pass	6	Pass	6
				All Pass
	Q J 10 9 8
	3 2
	A K 8 7 6 5
6 South	—			You ruff the first trick.

What next?

A. Lead Q to ace B. Run the Q C. Win A, ruff , win A D. Win A, ruff , lead 5

Problem 2

IMPs	A 6 5 4 3			West	North	East	South
None vul	A J 2						1
	6 5 4			Pass	3	Pass	4
	3 2			Pass	4	Pass	6
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: Q		East plays 6
	Q J 10 9 8
	K 10 4 3
	A
6 South	A K 4			You win the A.

What next?

A. Lead Q to ace B. Run the Q C. Win A, lead Q to ace D. Win A, run the Q

Problem 3

IMPs	A 6 5 4 3 2			West	North	East	South
None vul	A 4						1
	A K			Pass	3	Pass	3
	K Q 2			Pass	3	Pass	4
				Pass	4 NT	Pass	5
Lead: J				Pass	6	All Pass
	Q J 10 9 8
	Q J 10 9 8
	3 2
6 South	A			You win the A and A (if you lead Q, West plays 7).

What next?

A. Lead Q to ace B. Run the Q C. Win K, K-Q, A D. Win K, K, ruff Q, run Q

Quit

Explanations

Top Finesse for a King?

Problem 1

With nine cards, it is normal to finesse for a king, but you have to consider more than a single suit. Don’t miss the forest for the trees! After ruffing the club lead, if you next led a trump you would fail.

The main concern is to establish your diamond suit. Win the A and ruff a diamond (save the king for later). Next lead a low trump, willing to concede the trick to the king. Regardless of the defense, you can ruff another diamond with the ace and draw trumps; the rest of your diamonds will be good.

West held: 2 10-8-7-6 Q-10-9-2 A-K-10-8

Problem 2

Even with 10 cards, finessing for the king is the percentage play if we consider just a single suit, but once again the entire deal dictates otherwise. If you lost the spade finesse, you’d have to guess the Q.

The best technique is to cash the A at trick two, then lead the Q (maybe West will cover) to the ace. Assume both follow and the king does not drop. Next ruff a diamond; ruff the third club and ruff dummy’s last diamond. Finally, exit with a trump, and whoever wins the trick will be endplayed.

West held: 2 7-6-5 K-J-8-7-3 Q-J-10-5

Problem 3

Your trumps are getting longer! With 11 cards you should normally play to drop a missing king; but strangely enough, this time you can almost insure your slam by taking the finesse.

Lead a club to your ace, cross in diamonds and cash the remaining clubs. Well, almost: On the last club you must ruff to reach your hand. Next, lead the Q and, if West follows low, let it ride. If East wins a blank king, he will be endplayed. If West shows out on the Q, win A and lead another spade for the same endplay.

West held: K-7 7-6-5 J-10-9-4 9-8-7-5

Quiz 7J38 Main

Top Finesse for a King?

© 2001 Richard Pavlicek