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.

1.  Primary finesse

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

2.  Secondary finesse

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

3.  Double finesse

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

4.  Secondary double finesse

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

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

5.  Preparatory double finesse

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

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6.  Secondary prepatory double finesse

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

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

7.  Repeat finesse

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

8.  Secondary repeat finesse

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

9.  Entry retention finesse

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

10.  Secondary entry retention finesse

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

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11.  Delayed repeat finesse

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

12.  Secondary delayed repeat finesse

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

13.  Combined finesse

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

14.  Secondary combined finesse

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

15.  Two-way finesse

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

Which way to finesse may be a complete guess.

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Top Finesse

16.  Secondary two-way finesse

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

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

17.  Backward finesse

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

Most common on defense with Q or 10 in view.

18.  Secondary backward finesse

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

Most common on defense with J or 9 in view.

19.  Surround attack finesse

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

Most common on defense with K or J in view.

20.  Secondary surround attack finesse

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

Most common on defense with Q or 10 in view.

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Top Finesse

21.  Tertiary surround attack finesse

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

Most common on defense with J or 9 in view.

22.  Squash finesse

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

23.  Secondary squash finesse

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

24.  Double squash finesse

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

25.  Secondary double squash finesse

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

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Top Finesse

26.  Deep finesse

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

27.  Secondary deep finesse

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

Appropriate only if East is marked for the ace.

28.  Intrafinesse

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

29.  Secondary intrafinesse

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

30.  Preparatory duck finesse

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

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Top Finesse

31.  Obligatory duck finesse

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

32.  Entry retention combined finesse

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

33.  Unblock finesse

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

34.  Unblock combined finesse

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

35.  Unblock duck finesse

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

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36.  Preparatory unblock finesse

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

37.  Entry retention unblock dual finesse

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

38.  Forced revelation double finesse

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

39.  High-risk finesse

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

If East has Q, South wins only 2 tricks.

40.  Finesse refusal establishment

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

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41.  Finesse refusal entry

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

42.  Overtake entry finesse

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

43.  Overtake gambit entry finesse

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

44.  Finesse-assist duck

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

If North is dummy, play assumes West has 10.

45.  Gambit entry finesse

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

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

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Top Finesse

46.  Winner retention anti one-suit squeeze

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

47.  Entry duck unblock finesse

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

48.  Forced entry unblock finesse

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

49.  Entry hop and unblock finesse

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

50.  Insurance finesse

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

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

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Top Finesse

51.  Avoidance finesse

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

Anti finesse

52.  Cover anti finesse

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

53.  Non-cover anti finesse

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

54.  High cover anti finesse

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

With exit North only needs South to have 8.

55.  Middle cover anti finesse

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

Without exit North must hope South has 8-7.

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Top Finesse

56.  Repeat cover anti finesse

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

57.  Non-cover anti finesse establishment

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

58.  Entry block anti finesse

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

59.  Entry block anti combined finesse

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

If West leads K first, North must duck.

60.  Entry denial hop anti finesse

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

If Q or J led, North must duck.

Study 9G41 Main

Top Finesse

61.  Finesse refusal anti establishment

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

62.  Duck to avail guess

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

Presumes dummy is West or East.

63.  Cover to avail guess

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

Presumes dummy is West or East.

64.  Duck to avail finesse

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

Presumes dummy is West or East.

65.  Known card release to avail finesse

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

Presumes dummy is West or East.

Study 9G41 Main

Top Finesse

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek