Study 9P01   Main


Ruffing Finesse


  by Richard Pavlicek

A ruffing finesse is the lead of a significant side-suit card when the opposite hand is void, then ruffing or not depending on the whether LHO covers or plays low. When the ruffing finesse loses, it may still provide material gain with a loser-on-loser play, also covered here. About the Techniques

1. Ruffing finesse

S win 3
S A
H
D 3 2
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H K!
2nd 3rd 4th
S
H A 3
D 4
C
Table S
H 2
D K Q
C
South leads S
H K Q
D A
C

2. Ruffing squash finesse

S win 3
S A
H
D 3 2
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H K!
2nd 3rd 4th
S
H A 10
D 4
C
Table S
H Q
D K Q
C
South leads S
H K J
D A
C

3. Finesse or ruffing finesse

S win 4
auto
S
H A Q J
D A
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H 4
2nd
7
3rd 4th
S
H K 8 7
D 2
C
Table S
H 6 5
D K Q
C
South leads S 2
H 4
D 4 3
C

Option to play either opponent for H K.

4. Desperation finesse

S win 3
S 2
H A Q
D 3
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
Lead
H 2
H A
2nd
3
J
3rd
Q!
D 2
4th
10
K
S A
H K 3
D K
C
Table S 3
H J 10
D A
C
South leads S K Q
H 2
D 2
C

If East has H K, South wins only 1 trick.

5. Loser-on-loser

S win 3
auto
S A
H
D 5 4
C 4
Trick
1 S
Lead
H K
2nd
2
3rd
C 4!
4th
A
S
H 3 2
D K Q
C
Table S
H A 5
D
C A K
South leads S
H K Q
D A 2
C

6. Repeat ruffing finesse

S win 5
S A K
H
D 4 3 2
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 S
Lead
H Q!
D 2
H J!
2nd
A
10
3rd
S K
A
4th
2
5
S
H A K 9
D 6 5
C
Table S
H 3 2
D Q J 10
C
South leads S
H Q J 10
D A K
C

7. Repeat ruffing squash finesse

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

8. Loser-on-loser ruffing finesse

S win 4
auto
S A
H
D 5 4 3 2
C
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 S
Lead
H Q
D Q
H J!
2nd
2
K
3rd
D 2!
6
4th
A
3
S
H K 3 2
D 7 6
C
Table S
H A 4
D Q J 10
C
South leads S
H Q J 10
D A K
C

9. Finesse and ruffing squash finesse

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

Appropriate if confident East has H A (third).

10. Overtake ruffing finesse

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

With North on lead would be “undertake” instead.

Study 9P01   MainTop   Ruffing Finesse

11. Jettison ruffing finesse

S win 4
S A
H
D A
C 4 3 2
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 S
Lead
H Q
D 3
H J
2nd
7
K
A
3rd
D A!
C Q
4th
K
C 2
S
H A 7
D
C A K Q
Table S
H K 9 8
D 3 2
C
South leads S K
H Q J 10
D K
C

12. Jettison loser-on-loser trump control

S win 5
S A
H
D A
C 5 4 3 2
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 S
Lead
H 10
D 2
H K!
2nd
2
K
3rd
D A!
H 3
4th
A
C 2
S K
H 3 2
D
C A K Q
Table S
H A 9 8
D 4 3 2
C
South leads S 2
H K Q J 10
D K
C

Study 9P01   MainTop   Ruffing Finesse

Anti ruffing finesse

13. Cover refusal anti ruffing finesse

S win 1
auto bi
S
H A 10 9 8
D 2
C
Trick
1 W
2 W
Lead
H K
H Q
2nd
8!
9!
3rd
D 3
D 4
4th
2
S 2
S A K
H K Q J
D
C
Table S Q
H
D 6 5 4 3
C
West leads S 2
H 2
D A K Q
C

Auto/bi cases trivial.

14. Immediate cover anti ruffing finesse

S win 2
auto bi
S
H A 4 3
D 4 3
C
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 S
Lead
H J
D 5
S 2!
2nd
A!
K
3rd
S J
7
4th
2
3
S K
H K Q J
D 7
C
Table S A Q J
H
D 6 5
C
West leads S 3 2
H 2
D A K
C

Auto/bi cases trivial.

Study 9P01   MainTop   Ruffing Finesse

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek