Bridge Bites

BRIDGE BITES #115

WHICH FINESSE?

Brian Gunnell

♠ A6432

♥ 832

♦ 642

♣ T6

When this deal was played in a team match, both of the South players charged into 6♥ with little or no encouragement from North.

You have probably noticed that Dummy is alarmingly short of entries. So you might think that at Table 1, where West led a helpful Spade, Declarer would be in rather better shape than at Table 2 where West led a distinctly unhelpful Diamond. But, in fact, 6♥ went down at Table 1 and made at Table 2!

Dummy

West East

Declarer

♠

♥ AQJT94

♦ AKQJ

♣ AQ5

How should Declarer have played at Table 1, after the opening Spade lead?

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What actually happened was that Dummy’s ♠A won the first trick and Declarer pitched a Club loser. Seeing 12 easy tricks if the ♥K was onside, Declarer ran the ♥8, but was down when West took his King and returned a trump. Down one!

Declarer had blundered grievously, as there was now no way to avoid a Club loser. Instead of giving himself just one chance to finesse he could have given himself two chances. Yes, on the opening Spade lead Declarer must not throw a Club loser, instead it is a Diamond winner that has to go (the Ace would be the ostentatious choice, of course). Now Declarer takes the Club finesse and, if it loses, then he can get to the board with a Club ruff and try the Heart finesse. Of course, when the Club finesse works, then Declarer cashes the ♣A, ruffs a Club (with the Eight, to be safe), and tries for an overtrick with a Heart finesse. Here is the full deal:

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