IMPROVE YOUR PLAY
with Larry Matheny

For some bridge players, the finesse is an exciting play.  For the more experienced players, the finesse is a last resort.  Perhaps these experienced players have lost too many finesses and now know better.

Scoring:  Matchpoints (Pairs)

Hand #6
Dlr   N
Vul E/W
S J632
H Q852
D AQ4
C 76
S 109
H A94
D 10862
C J1098
    
S 87
H K103
D KJ93
C 5432

S AKQ54
H J76
D 75
C AKQ
West North
 East
 South

Pass
 Pass
 1S
   Pass
    2S    Pass
     4S
   End


 
BIDDING:  North-South had an easy journey to the spade game.

PLAY:  West led the jack of clubs and declarer stopped to count his losers.  The black suits presented no problems but he saw it was possible to lose three hearts and one diamond.  He could find the diamond king in the West hand but that was only a 50% proposition.  Instead, he saw a play that guaranteed his contract.  He won the club lead, drew trumps, and played the other two clubs pitching a diamond from dummy.  Next, he played a diamond to the ace followed by the queen.  He did not care which opponent won the trick for they would have to lead hearts or surrender a ruff/sluff.  Either way he would lose only one diamond and two hearts.

Elimination plays such as this are common but frequently overlooked by those who cannot resist the temptation of a finesse.

Copyright ©2010 Larry Matheny.