Low or high?
We learn the finesse very early in our bridge education. And we learn – perhaps earlier still – not to tip off our hand. So when declarer leads towards a holding we can see in dummy and we have a card that a finesse might catch, we practise our best, most in-tempo, nonchalant following of suit – hoping that declarer gives up on the play.
But there is a catch – that's what makes the game so fascinating. Even when we can see high cards in dummy, playing low isn't always right. This is a classic case:
| Dummy | |||
| ♥ AJ95 | |||
| You | |||
| ♥ K104 | |||
When the two is led, you follow low and being a capable player (or being an opponent who gets things right against you), declarer puts in the nine. Partner wins this trick with the queen but the ace-knave is now a finesse over your king: your side gets one trick. You can't completely foil this but if you play the king on the initial lead, after winning with the ace, declarer will return to hand and lead another low card. Now he has a decision to make; because most people play an honour from king-queen, he may go wrong and rise with the knave on the second play. You've given your side a chance.
Our reflexes are even more ingrained when the lead is from dummy towards the closed hand; doesn't second hand always play low? This deal from a club night featured a hard to find play:
| Game All Dealer West | ♠ 1085 | ||
| ♥ KQ1085 | |||
| ♦ Q83 | |||
| ♣ 64 | |||
| ♠ KJ943 | ♠ 76 | ||
| ♥ 3 | ♥ J972 | ||
| ♦ AK105 | ♦ J962 | ||
| ♣ A72 | ♣ K85 | ||
| ♠ AQ2 | |||
| ♥ A64 | |||
| ♦ 74 | |||
| ♣ QJ1093 | |||
| West | North | East | South | |
| 1♠ | Pass | Pass | 1NT | |
| End | ||||
East-West went rather quietly and North judged well not to introduce hearts (he was worried about opponents scoring spade ruffs). West led his lowest diamond and declarer rose with the queen to play a club. East followed low and the queen forced West's ace; he now cashed diamonds, East won the last and played a spade through. South had retained his spades so could duck and the knave won. But West couldn't play another from his side so he got off lead with a heart. Declarer won and played a second club, East took this and fired a spade through but it was too late.
South now had enough tricks; three hearts, a spade, a diamond and two clubs – one no-trump. Very difficult at trick two, but look at the effect of East playing the club king. Now she can play a spade and another when in with the fourth diamond. West still has the club ace to cash spades – and that would be two off.
Published Saturday 11.Apr.2009