Finesse Avoidance II - Answers. Contract: West’s Lead: winning, then the ♦A, ♥7. 1. 3 6 Clubs J864 Is there any better line than to take the 50% Spade finesse for a K98 chance of success? Maybe: Take the then enter Dummy ♣A, twice with Clubs and trump Diamonds high - with the or ♣T J2 higher so you can’t be overruffed. AKQJ K The Q might drop on the 3rd round, solving your Spade AQJT43 problem with the If not, only then take the Spade finesse. ♦J. 2 chances are always better than one . . . AK87 Contract: West’s Lead: 2. 3 6 Spades AQJ54 Is there any better line of play than the 50% Diamond finesse? K84 Yes. Collect trump, Eliminate* Hearts and then lead a Club QJT6542 toward the (a Finesse, that’s true.) If West wins it, then ♣King A86 you can pitch your losing Diamond on the If East wins ♣King. T6 it, you were going to lost 1 Club trick anyhow, and East can’t 2 lead Diamonds or Hearts or Spades. But if you take the Diamond finesse first and it loses, you are down immediately as East will lead a Club. 2 chances are . . . - Contract: West’s Lead: ♠Queen. 3. AQT972 6 Hearts 742 Is there any better line of play than the Diamond finesse, AK52 possibly losing 2 Diamonds? Absolutely. a Diamond from dummy on the opening lead K8 (East wins the of course), then later pitch a 2nd ♠Ace, Diamond from dummy on your good ♠King. AQ53 98 Easy. Can’t lose. Do not be in a hurry - especially to ruff. Finesse Avoidance II Answers continued –
Finesse Avoidance II - Answers. 1. 3 J864 K98 Contract: 6 Clubs West’s Lead: ♦A, winning, then the ♥7. Is there any better line than to take the 50% Spade finesse for a chance of success? Maybe: Take the ♣A, then enter Dummy twice with Clubs and trump Diamonds high - with the ♣T or higher so you can’t be overruffed. The Q might drop on the 3rd round, solving your Spade problem with the ♦J. If not, only then take the Spade finesse. 2 chances are always better than one . . . J2 AKQJ K AQJT43 2. AK87 3 AQJ54 K84 Contract: 6 Spades West’s Lead: Is there any better line of play than the 50% Diamond finesse? Yes. Collect trump, Eliminate* Hearts and then lead a Club toward the ♣King (a Finesse, that’s true.) If West wins it, then you can pitch your losing Diamond on the ♣King. If East wins it, you were going to lost 1 Club trick anyhow, and East can’t lead Diamonds or Hearts or Spades. But if you take the Diamond finesse first and it loses, you are down immediately as East will lead a Club. 2 chances are . . . QJT6542 A86 T6 2 3. - AQT972 742 AK52 Contract: 6 Hearts West’s Lead: ♠Queen. Is there any better line of play than the Diamond finesse, possibly losing 2 Diamonds? Absolutely. a Diamond from dummy on the opening lead (East wins the ♠Ace, of course), then later pitch a 2nd Diamond from dummy on your good ♠King. Easy. Can’t lose. Do not be in a hurry - especially to ruff. K8 AQ53 98 Finesse Avoidance II – Answers continued
DeclarerTechniques%20Final%20I.docx