A little “Je ne sais quoi”

A word connoting some “je ne sais quoi” in common parlance, a finesse in Bridge is more straightforward. It is an attempt to promote a card, when the opponents have a higher card in the suit. Normally, you must lead from the opposite hand to the card you are trying to promote.

You lead ♥3 towards ♥K. You hope the opponent playing second, West, holds ♥A. If he does, he is powerless to prevent ♥K from promoting. [He can play ♥A, but North’s ♥2 is played and ♥K makes next time; or, more likely, he can play second-hand-low, in which case ♥K, which you’ll now play, will win the trick].

Note that it doesn’t matter which is declarer’s hand and which is dummy; it doesn’t matter if the opponents can see what you’re doing. It’s all about the relative position of the card you are trying to promote and the opposing higher card.

Now look at this:

Making one heart trick is easy. You can lead ♥K, forcing out ♥A (wherever it is) and promote ♥Q. However say you need two heart tricks so have to promote both ♥K and ♥Q.

Now finesse technique is required. You must lead from the opposite hand to those two honours you are trying to promote. You lead ♥3 and, assuming West plays low, try ♥Q. Half the time East will hold ♥A and ♥Q will lose to ♥A. You’ve promoted ♥K, but cannot make two heart tricks. However say West holds ♥A, in which case ♥Q is promoted. You must now return to the South hand (in another suit), then lead ♥4 towards ♥K. Whether West plays ♥A or not, ♥K is promoted.

Finessing is like the toss of a coin, a 50-50 chance.