Etiquette and Finessing

George Delafield U3A

Etiquette 1 (see Appendix 4 in Klinger) Have fun but maintain respect

–Don’t touch other people’s cards (law 7B) Playing from dummy: (Law 45B) Declarer plays a card from dummy by naming the card, after which dummy picks up the card and faces it on the table. In playing from dummy’s hand declarer may, if necessary, pick up the desired card himself (or herself). –Don’t make disrespectful comments –Bid and play the cards at an even –The opposition is entitled to know what you know about the bidding and play Etiquette 2 Avoiding and correcting mistakes • Using bidding boxes – Alert cards – Stop cards • When making an , put the card face down and ask partner if they have any questions. • If you or anyone else makes a mistake in bidding or play, then call the Tournament Director for a ruling.

Simple Finessing A is an attempt to win one or more tricks with a lower card than one held by the opponents You are declarer in No Trumps and missing one or more of the top honours in a suit: Dummy (North) 4 3 2 West East

A K J (South) You More examples Simple finesse 1

N( dummy ) 5 4 2

W E

A Q 3 S (you)

To finesse for the King, lead a small card towards the Ace/Queen combination. If East doesn’t play the King, you play the Queen. This means you make two tricks when East holds the King

More examples Simple finesse 2

N( dummy ) J 10 8

W E

A K 3 S(you)

To finesse for the Queen, play the Jack and if East doesn’t play the Queen, play small from your hand. This will win 3 tricks when the queen is with East Double Finessing 1 You are missing two of the top four honours Touching honours missing

N 4 3 2

W E

A J 10 S

The probability of winning 2 tricks is 76%. Lead from dummy twice, playing the Jack if East does not cover. You will make two when the honours are divided (52%) and also when East has them both(24%)

Double Finessing 2 You are missing two of the top four honours Missing non touching honours N 4 3 2

WE

A Q 10 S The probability of winning 2 tricks is 52% and of 3 tricks is 24% Again lead from dummy twice, playing the Ten if East does not play an honour A Ruffing Finesse : Here instead of a high card in the suit led, there is a . (The hand must also have a .) This is called a Ruffing Finesse.

Dummy ♠ ------♥ K Q J10 9 ♦ 2 ♣ ------

♠ ------♥ A 6 ♦ 3 ♣ K Q J You

Here are trumps. Take the Ruffing Finesse by playing the K ♣ . If the A ♣ appears on the your left trump it. Then the rest of the are good. If the Ace does not appear throw away the losing 2 ♦ . Even if the Ace is on your right and you lose the trick at least you got rid of that losing Diamond. (This is also considered a Loser on a Loser play.)

Another Ruffing Finesse situation

Dummy

♠ ------♥ K Q J10 ♦ 2 ♣ 3

♠ ------♥ A 6 ♦ 3 ♣ A Q J

You

Hearts are still trumps but now there is a choice. You can either play 3 ♣ from dummy and play a simple finesse for the King ♣ by playing the Q ♣ from your hand. Or you can take a Ruffing Finesse by playing the A ♣ and then play the Q ♣. If the K ♣ appears on the your left trump it. Then the rest of the Clubs are good. If the King ♣ does not appear throw away the losing 2 ♦ . If the King ♣ does not appear on your right then you have the rest of the tricks. But if the K ♣ is on your right and wins the trick, at least you did dump the losing 2 ♦ . Again a Loser on a Loser. Finesse or drop?

(see page 142 – ‘eight ever, nine never’) You are missing the King and opponents have: 2 cards – play for the drop, 52% chance the king will fall 3 or 4 cards – finesse against the K but not against Q or J (chance of dropping a singleton or doubleton Q is 78% when missing 3 cards or 53% when missing 4 cards) 5 or 6 cards – finesse against the K or Q but not against J (chance of dropping the singleton or doubleton Q has fallen below 50%)

Summary

Openness is part of the game of bridge When you are declarer, think about how many tricks you need and whether you should finesse or play for the drop

Have Fun !!