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If you remember_just one_thing
In this series Andrew, features one improtant point per Article. Bit by bit the reader will improve their game.
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Andrew:
Finesse against Dummy
We have observed that third hand plays high, but chooses the cheaper of touching highest cards. This is the case when dummy has only low cards. Things change when dummy has an unplayed picture card that you can beat.
| A) |
Dummy ♠ K 5 2 |
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West ♠ 3 (led) |
East (you) ♠ A Q 4 |
If West led ♠ 3 and dummy played ♠ 2, it would clearly be absurd for you to play ♠ A. ♠ Q will win the trick more cheaply.
| B) |
Dummy ♥ K 5 2 |
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West ♥ 3 (led) |
East (you) ♥ A J 8 |
Less obvious, you should insert ♥ J in (B), after ♥ 3, ♥ 2. West’s low card lead is indicative of holding a picture card (lead low for like; lead high for hate). This honour can only be ♥ Q, in which case your ♥ J will win the trick, whilst retaining ♥ A to prevent dummy’s ♥ K from being promoted. Interestingly, however, it would still be correct to insert ♥ J, even if declarer held ♥ Q...
| Bi) |
Dummy ♥ K 5 2 |
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West ♥ 10 7 5 3 |
East (you) ♥ A J 8 |
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| ♥ Q 9 4 |
After ♥ 3 (yes - West should have led ♥ 7) and dummy’s ♥ 2, your correct play of ♥ J will see declarer score ♥ Q but no more (with your ♥ A poised to beat ♥ K). Play ♥ A on the first round however, “beating air”, and declarer scores both ♥ Q and ♥ K.
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North Deals None Vul |
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| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♥ | Pass | 1 ♠ | |
| Pass | 1 NT1 | Pass | 4 ♠ |
| Pass | Pass | Pass |
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What happened
West led ♦ 2 vs 4 ♠. Dummy played ♦ 6, and East played ♦ A. End of story - all the defence could garner from here was their three aces. 10 tricks and game made.
What should have happened
East inserts ♦ 10 at Trick One (key play), retaining ♦ A over ♦ K. Declarer wins ♦ Q and leads ♠ K. East wins ♠ A, leads ♣ 8 over to ♣ A, and West fires ♦ J through ♦ K. Declarer cannot win. Say he covers ♦ J with ♦ K (or ♦ J wins). East wins ♦ A and leads back to West’s promoted ♦ 9. Down one.
If you remember one thing...
Third-hand does not necessarily play their highest card when dummy has an unplayed picture
card. It generally pays to retain the higher card to beat that picture, “finessing against dummy”
