Dubious Logic

The no-lose finesse

Early in the year I wrote about the 'two way finesse', "Typically you have suit combination of A10x opposite KJx and you know you can make tricks three tricks from the combination". I went on to give an example where for reasons based on the whole hand, not just in the suit itself, you could only benefit from taking that finesse one way (http://www.dubiouslogic.com/bridge/eadt/2005/Jan29.doc.htm). In a match a few days ago a deal arose that featured a no-lose finesse:

After you open 1♠ next hands doubles, partner bids 4♠, right-hand opponent doubles and that's where matters rest. North leads the diamond ace and switched to the trump ten to South's ace. He plays a second round and North, fortunately, follows. Your meagre assets fit well and you have real chance – diamonds being 3-3 – to take the rest of the tricks. It looks highly likely that clubs are four with North and five with South, giving North either a 2=4=3=4 or 2=3=4=4 shape. You're fine against the former as you can set up diamonds but when North has four, you're an entry short…

This looks like a defensive problem: you will lead a heart towards the ace-ten – if North follows low you insert the ten and go about establishing diamonds. But… If North is awake, he will play the queen on this trick, and though you have three tricks now, you won't be able to overtake the knave or king in your hand. However, there is a solution – take another look then try with sight of all four hands:

Given North to hold one of the distributions considered above and the club ace, the contract is certain by leading the knave of hearts. If North has the heart queen he may not cover else table has another entry. And likewise South – he may not win it! Again, East would have the vital fourth entry and diamonds could be ruffed out and cashed. So as the knave of hearts must hold, you now ruff a club, ruff a diamond and play two more hearts ending in dummy. When you lead a diamond and South shows out you pitch a club. North is not happy:

Whether North plays a club or a diamond, West has the rest – South is no help at all.

Published Saturday 23.Jul.2005