Finesse (2)

Finessing is that method of card promotion where you lead from the opposite hand to the card or cards you’re trying to promote, in the hope that the opponent playing second holds the missing higher card(s).

You lead ♥2 to ♥Q. Half the time ♥Q will be promoted (when West, playing second, holds ♥K); half the time ♥Q will lose to ♥K. Your 50-50 gamble failed.

Now look at this:

Your best way to play this suit is to take the “deep finesse”, trying to promote your lower card first.  Lead ♥2 from South to ♥10. A quarter of the time, when West holds both ♥K and ♥J, ♥10 will win. You’ll now return to the South hand and lead to ♥Q. If ♥10 draws ♥K, you’ll have promoted ♥Q. And if ♥10 loses to ♥J, which will happen half the time, you can still lead to ♥Q.

Now look at this:

You can promote both of North’s honours, but only by leading to ♥J first. When this wins (lucky you – a 25% chance), you’ll return to South and lead towards ♥K. Note that swap East and West’s spades and you’d win not one spade trick. No way. It’s all about the relative position of these high cards.