Study 9G41   Main

Finesse

by Richard Pavlicek

A finesse is an attempt to win a trick, or develop a subsequent trick in the same suit, with a card that is not the highest in its suit by leading through an opponent who has a higher card. If the leading side also has the highest card in the suit, it is a primary finesse, which is generally assumed by default. If the leading side does not have the highest card, it is a secondary finesse. About the Techniques

1. Primary finesse

NT win 2	A Q — — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd 9	3rd Q!	4th
K 9 — — —			J 10 — — —
South leads	3 2 — — —

2. Secondary finesse

NT win 1	K 4 — — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd 10	3rd K!	4th
A 10 — — —			Q J — — —
South leads	3 2 — — —

3. Double finesse

NT win 4	A Q 10 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 2 2 3	2nd 6 4 J	3rd 10! A Q	4th 7 3
K J 6 3 — —			9 8 7 4 — —
South leads	4 3 2 A — —

4. Secondary double finesse

NT win 3	K J 9 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 2 2 3	2nd 8 4 10	3rd 9! A J	4th 6 3
Q 10 8 3 — —			A 7 6 4 — —
South leads	4 3 2 A — —

If you think West has A play J first then K.

5. Preparatory double finesse

NT win 4	A 10 8 2 — — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead J! 2 3	2nd Q 5 7	3rd A K 8	4th 4 6
Q 9 7 6 — — —			5 4 A K — —
South leads	K J 3 2 — —

6. Secondary prepatory double finesse

NT win 4 bi	K 9 7 3 4 — —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 S 4 S	Lead 10! K Q 2	2nd J A 5 6	3rd K 3 3 7	4th A 4 4
J 8 6 5 3 — —			A 4 K Q J — —
South leads	Q 10 2 A 2 — —

Also works if West has A-J-x-x.

7. Repeat finesse

NT win 4	A 3 2 A — —			Trick 1 S 2 S	Lead Q J	2nd 5	3rd 2!	4th 7
K 6 5 2 — —			9 8 7 3 — —
South leads	Q J 10 4 — — —

8. Secondary repeat finesse

NT win 3	K 4 3 2 — — —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 S	Lead J 2 10	2nd 6 A	3rd 2! 7	4th A 3
Q 8 7 6 — — —			A 5 3 2 — —
South leads	J 10 9 A — —

9. Entry retention finesse

NT win 4	A J 10 3 — — —			Trick 1 S 2 S 3 S	Lead 9! Q 2	2nd 6 7 8	3rd 3 10 J	4th 4 5
K 8 7 6 — — —			5 4 A K — —
South leads	Q 9 2 2 — —

10. Secondary entry retention finesse

NT win 3	K 10 9 2 — — —			Trick 1 S 2 S	Lead 8! J	2nd 6	3rd 2	4th 4
A Q 7 6 — — —			5 4 A K — —
South leads	J 8 3 2 — —

Study 9G41   Main

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11. Delayed repeat finesse

NT win 4	A Q J 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 2 2 3	2nd 5 3 7	3rd J! A Q	4th 8 6
K 7 6 5 — — —			10 9 8 3 — —
South leads	4 3 2 A — —

12. Secondary delayed repeat finesse

NT win 3	K J 10 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 2 2 3	2nd 5 3 9	3rd 10! A J	4th 6 8
Q 9 8 5 — — —			A 7 6 3 — —
South leads	4 3 2 A — —

13. Combined finesse

NT win 2 auto bi?	A J 10 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 W	Lead 2 3 8	2nd 7 3 J!	3rd 10! A	4th Q 2
K 8 7 A — —			Q 9 6 3 — —
South leads	5 4 3 2 — — —

14. Secondary combined finesse

NT win 1 auto bi?	K 10 9 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 W	Lead 2 3 8	2nd 7 3 10!	3rd 9! A A	4th J 2
Q 8 7 A — —			A J 6 3 — —
South leads	5 4 3 2 — — —

15. Two-way finesse

NT win 4 auto bi	A 10 2 A — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 3	2nd 7	3rd	4th
9 8 7 2 — —			Q 6 5 3 — —
South leads	K J 4 3 — — —

Which way to finesse may be a complete guess.

16. Secondary two-way finesse

NT win 3 auto bi	Q 9 2 A — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 3	2nd 7	3rd	4th
A 8 7 2 — —			J 6 5 3 — —
South leads	K 10 4 3 — — —

Options are to finesse 9 or win Q and finesse 10.

17. Backward finesse

NT win 4 auto?	K 3 2 A — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 N	Lead J! A 2	2nd Q 3 8	3rd K 4 9	4th 7 2
Q 6 5 2 — —			10 8 7 3 — —
South leads	A J 9 4 — — —

Most common on defense with Q or 10 in view.

18. Secondary backward finesse

NT win 3 auto? bi?	Q 3 2 A — —			Trick 1 S 2 N	Lead 10! 3	2nd J 6	3rd Q 8	4th 5
A J 7 2 — —			9 6 5 3 — —
South leads	K 10 8 4 — — —

Most common on defense with J or 9 in view.

19. Surround attack finesse

NT win 3 auto? bi	4 3 2 A — —			Trick 1 S	Lead Q!	2nd K	3rd	4th
K 9 6 2 — —			J 8 7 3 — —
South leads	A Q 10 5 — — —

Most common on defense with K or J in view.

20. Secondary surround attack finesse

NT win 2 auto? bi	3 2 4 3 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead J!	2nd Q	3rd	4th
Q 7 5 4 — — —			A 10 9 2 — —
South leads	K J 8 6 — — —

Most common on defense with Q or 10 in view.

Study 9G41   Main

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21. Tertiary surround attack finesse

NT win 1 auto bi	3 2 4 3 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 10!	2nd J	3rd	4th
A J 5 4 — — —			K 9 7 2 — —
South leads	Q 10 8 6 — — —

Most common on defense with J or 9 in view.

22. Squash finesse

NT win 2	A 10 — — —			Trick 1 S	Lead Q!	2nd K	3rd A	4th J
K 9 — — —			J A — —
South leads	Q 2 — — —

23. Secondary squash finesse

NT win 2	K 9 3 — — —			Trick 1 S	Lead J!	2nd	3rd	4th
A Q 2 — — —			10 3 2 — —
South leads	J 8 4 — — —

24. Double squash finesse

NT win 4	A Q 6 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 10 2 9!	2nd K Q	3rd A A	4th 7 4
K J 5 4 — — —			8 7 K Q — —
South leads	10 9 2 A — —

25. Secondary double squash finesse

NT win 4	K 7 6 5 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 W 3 S	Lead J 5 10!	2nd A 2	3rd 5 J	4th 8 A
A Q 4 5 4 — —			9 8 K Q J — —
South leads	J 10 3 2 A — —

26. Deep finesse

NT win 2 auto bi?	A Q 9 2 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd 8	3rd 9!	4th K
J 10 8 A — —			K 7 6 3 — —
South leads	5 4 3 2 — — —

27. Secondary deep finesse

NT win 1 auto bi?	K J 8 2 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd 7	3rd 8!	4th Q
10 9 7 A — —			A Q 6 3 — —
South leads	5 4 3 2 — — —

Appropriate only if East is marked for the ace.

28. Intrafinesse

NT win 3 auto?	Q 8 3 A — —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 N	Lead 2 3 Q!	2nd 6 2 K	3rd 8! Q A	4th 10 A J
J 6 K Q — —			K 10 7 3 — —
South leads	A 9 2 2 — —

29. Secondary intrafinesse

NT win 3 auto?	K 7 5 A 3 — —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 N 4 E	Lead 2 4 K! 6	2nd 4 2 A 8	3rd 7! J 3	4th 10 A 9
9 4 K Q J — —			A J 10 6 4 — —
South leads	Q 8 3 2 2 — —

30. Preparatory duck finesse

NT win 2	A J 5 — — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd K	3rd 5!	4th 6
K Q 10 — — —			8 7 6 — — —
South leads	4 3 2 — — —

Study 9G41   Main

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31. Obligatory duck finesse

NT win 3	K 5 4 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N	Lead 2 4	2nd 6 9	3rd K 3!	4th 8 A
A 6 K Q — —			J 10 9 8 — — —
South leads	Q 3 2 A — —

32. Entry retention combined finesse

NT win 4 auto bi	A J 10 8 4 — —			Trick 1 S 2 E 3 S 4 S	Lead 2! K 9! 3	2nd 5 A 6 7	3rd J! 3 8 10	4th K 4 4
Q 7 6 5 3 — —			K 4 K Q J — —
South leads	9 3 2 A 2 — —

33. Unblock finesse

NT win 3 bi	Q 4 A 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 W 3 N	Lead 5 K 4	2nd K A 9	3rd Q! 3 10	4th 8 6
K 7 K Q — —			J 9 8 3 — —
South leads	A 10 6 5 — — —

34. Unblock combined finesse

NT win 3	A 10 4 3 2 — —			Trick 1 W 2 E 3 S	Lead 5 K 2	2nd 3 A 8	3rd K 6 10!	4th J! 2
Q 9 8 6 5 — — —			K 7 K Q J — —
West leads	J 2 A 4 3 — —

35. Unblock duck finesse

NT win 4 auto? bi	A 8 4 3 4 3 — —			Trick 1 W 2 E 3 S 4 W 5 S	Lead 6 Q 10 6 2	2nd 3 A K 4 7	3rd Q 5 4! 9 8!	4th 9! 3 5 K
K J 7 6 6 5 — —			Q 5 Q J 10 9 — —
West leads	10 9 2 A K 2 — —

36. Preparatory unblock finesse

NT win 5 bi	K Q 9 4 3 — — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead 10! 3 2	2nd 5 J 7	3rd K A 9	4th 8 6
J 7 6 5 4 — —			8 A K Q J — —
South leads	A 10 2 3 2 — —

37. Entry retention unblock dual finesse

NT win 5	A J 2 A Q — —			Trick 1 S 2 S 3 N 4 S	Lead Q! 10 2 2	2nd 3 K 7 4	3rd J! A 9 Q	4th 5 6 4
K 4 3 K 4 — —			8 7 6 5 5 — —
South leads	Q 10 9 3 2 — —

38. Forced revelation double finesse

NT win 5 bi	A J 8 4 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 S 3 N 4 S	Lead K 10! 2 2	2nd 6 Q 5 7	3rd 4 A A 8	4th 5 4 3
Q 9 7 6 3 — —			5 7 6 5 4 — —
South leads	K 10 3 2 A — —

39. High-risk finesse

NT win 4	K J — 3 2 —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd 9	3rd J!	4th
Q 10 9 — 4 —			8 7 — 10 9 —
South leads	A 3 2 — A —

If East has Q, South wins only 2 tricks.

40. Finesse refusal establishment

NT win 3 auto bi	A Q 3 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N	Lead 3 Q	2nd 8	3rd A!	4th 2
10 9 8 4 — —			K 2 K 5 — —
South leads	J 4 3 A — —

Study 9G41   Main

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41. Finesse refusal entry

NT win 5 auto bi	Q J 9 K Q J — —			Trick 1 W 2 S 3 S	Lead 6 A 2	2nd Q 2	3rd 3 J	4th A! 3
K 8 7 6 2 3 —			5 4 3 3 K Q —
West leads	A 10 2 A A 2 —

42. Overtake entry finesse

NT win 6 bi	A Q 10 5 4 3 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S	Lead K! 3 2	2nd 7 6 8	3rd A! Q 10	4th 2 9 3
J 9 8 7 10 9 — —			— K 8 7 6 3 2 —
South leads	K 2 A Q J 2 — —

43. Overtake gambit entry finesse

NT win 6 bi	A K 2 4 3 2 — —			Trick 1 S 2 N 3 S 4 N	Lead J 2 Q 3	2nd 5 9 6	3rd K! Q A!	4th 8 6 9
7 6 5 8 7 6 — —			10 9 8 K 10 9 — —
South leads	Q J A Q J 5 — —

44. Finesse-assist duck

NT win 2 auto bi	Q 4 3 — — —			Trick 1 W	Lead J	2nd 3	3rd 6	4th 2!
J 10 8 — — —			K 7 6 — — —
West leads	A 9 2 — — —

If North is dummy, play assumes West has 10.

45. Gambit entry finesse

NT win 5 not	A J 4 3 2 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd 7?	3rd J!	4th 9
Q 8 7 6 5 — —			10 9 K 10 9 — —
South leads	K 2 A Q J — —

West can defeat, but Q hop is rare in practice.

46. Winner retention anti one-suit squeeze

NT win 4	A Q J 8 — — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 10!	2nd	3rd	4th
K 9 4 2 — —			7 6 5 3 — —
South leads	10 3 2 A — —

47. Entry duck unblock finesse

NT win 3 bi	A 9 8 5 4 3 — —			Trick 1 W	Lead K	2nd 8!	3rd 3	4th 10!
K Q 7 6 9 6 — —			5 4 3 A K J — —
West leads	J 10 2 Q 10 2 — —

48. Forced entry unblock finesse

NT win 3	10 9 8 4 3 — —			Trick 1 W	Lead K	2nd 8	3rd 3	4th J!
K Q 7 6 5 — — —			4 3 A Q J — —
West leads	A J 2 K 2 — —

49. Entry hop and unblock finesse

NT win 3 auto? bi	J 10 2 3 2 — —			Trick 1 W	Lead 6	2nd J!	3rd A	4th K!
Q 8 7 6 4 — —			A 9 5 K J — —
West leads	K 4 3 A Q — —

50. Insurance finesse

NT win 5 auto bi	A K Q 10 9 5 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 2	2nd 4	3rd 10!	4th J
5 4 K Q 9 8 — —			J 8 7 6 J 10 — —
South leads	3 2 A 4 3 2 — —

Ensures 5 tricks at the cost of 1 if J fell.

51. Avoidance finesse

NT win 4 auto?	A 9 2 A 2 — —			Trick 1 S	Lead 3	2nd 6	3rd 9!	4th
J 7 6 3 A —			Q 8 K Q J — —
South leads	K 10 5 4 3 — — —

Study 9G41   Main

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Anti finesse

52. Cover anti finesse

NT win 1 auto bi	K 3 2 — — —			Trick 1 W	Lead Q	2nd K!	3rd	4th
Q 9 8 — — —			A J 7 — — —
West leads	10 5 4 — — —

53. Non-cover anti finesse

NT win 1 auto bi	K 3 2 — — —			Trick 1 W	Lead Q	2nd 2!	3rd	4th
Q J 9 — — —			A 8 7 — — —
West leads	10 5 4 — — —

54. High cover anti finesse

NT win 3 not?	K J 6 5 4 — —			Trick 1 W 2 N	Lead 9? 5!	2nd K!	3rd 4	4th 3
10 9 7 A 6 — —			Q 5 4 K Q — —
West leads	A 8 3 3 2 — —

With exit North only needs South to have 8.

55. Middle cover anti finesse

NT win 4 not?	K J 6 K Q — —			Trick 1 W 2 S	Lead 9? 8!	2nd J!	3rd Q	4th A
10 9 3 A 4 — —			Q 5 4 6 5 — —
West leads	A 8 7 3 2 — —

Without exit North must hope South has 8-7.

56. Repeat cover anti finesse

NT win 1 auto bi	Q J 7 4 3 2 — —			Trick 1 W 2 E 3 W 4 E 5 W	Lead 8 4 9 5 6	2nd Q! 8 J! 10 7	3rd K A A K	4th 5 2 9 3
9 8 6 2 A K — —			A K 10 3 5 4 — —
West leads	5 Q J 10 9 8 — —

57. Non-cover anti finesse establishment

NT win 2 auto bi	K 10 7 6 J 10 — —			Trick 1 W 2 W	Lead Q J	2nd 6! 7!	3rd 3 4	4th 2 7
Q J 5 A 4 3 — —			A 9 8 4 3 2 — —
West leads	2 K Q 9 8 7 — —

58. Entry block anti finesse

NT win 1 auto	Q 9 8 8 7 6 — —			Trick 1 W	Lead 3	2nd Q!	3rd	4th
K J 3 A Q J — —			A 10 4 5 4 3 — —
West leads	7 6 5 K 10 9 — —

59. Entry block anti combined finesse

NT win 3 bi	Q 2 A J 10 — —			Trick 1 W	Lead 5	2nd Q!	3rd	4th
6 5 K Q 6 — —			A J 10 5 4 — —
West leads	K 4 3 3 2 — —

If West leads K first, North must duck.

60. Entry denial hop anti finesse

NT win 2 auto	A 8 7 6 5 4 — —			Trick 1 W 2 N	Lead 5 6	2nd A!	3rd 9	4th 2
Q J 5 A Q J — —			K 10 9 8 7 6 — —
West leads	4 3 2 K 10 9 — —

If Q or J led, North must duck.

61. Finesse refusal anti establishment

NT win 2 bi	4 3 2 K Q — —			Trick 1 W	Lead J	2nd 2	3rd 9	4th 5!
J 8 A J 3 — —			A Q 10 9 2 — —
West leads	K 6 5 5 4 — —

62. Duck to avail guess

NT win 2 not	J 6 5 2 — —			Trick 1 W 2 E 3 W	Lead 7 3 8	2nd 5 4 6	3rd K A	4th 3! 2
9 8 7 A — —			K Q 10 3 — —
West leads	A 4 3 4 — —

Presumes dummy is West or East.

63. Cover to avail guess

NT win 2 not	A Q 5 2 — —			Trick 1 W 2 E 3 W	Lead 10 3 6	2nd Q! 4 5	3rd K A	4th 3 2
10 7 6 A — —			K J 8 3 — —
West leads	9 4 3 4 — —

Presumes dummy is West or East.

64. Duck to avail finesse

NT win 2 not	J 9 K Q — —			Trick 1 W 2 E	Lead 5 7	2nd 9 4	3rd Q	4th 3!
K 10 5 A — —			Q 8 7 3 — —
West leads	A 4 3 2 — —

Presumes dummy is West or East.

65. Known card release to avail finesse

NT win 1 not	Q 10 2 5 — —			Trick 1 W 2 E 3 E	Lead 7 A 3	2nd 2 5 6	3rd J 8	4th 4 Q!
K 9 8 7 — — —			A J 3 2 — —
West leads	6 5 4 4 — —

Presumes dummy is West or East.

Study 9G41   Main

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© 2014 Richard Pavlicek