Finesse Strategies : Quiz 1-5 Answers

1. Contract : 3NT Opening lead : 5♠

Declarer (W)
♠ 9 4
♥ A Q 2
♦ Q 8 5
♣ A J 9 7 3 Dummy (E)
♠ A 7 3
♥ K 7 6 4
♦ A 9 7
♣ K 10 5

Hold up ♠ twice, then win the 3rd trick with A♠.
Lead the 4♥ to Declarer's Q♥, then lead 9♣ for a Direct finesse of the Q♣.
This gives S the lead if the finesse fails and safeguards against N holding 5 spades.

2. Contract : 3NT Opening lead : Q♦

Declarer (W)
♠ Q J 3
♥ A 9 2
♦ K 9
♣ K Q 10 6 5 Dummy (E)
♠ A 10 6 4
♥ K 8 6 3
♦ A 5 3
♣ J 8

Hold up ♦ once, then win 2nd trick with West's K♦.
Lead 5♣ to Dummy's J♣ to dislodge South's A♣.
Take the direct finesse in ♠ last.
Rule : With one stopper left → lose to the long suited hand first !

3. Contract : 4♠ Opening lead : 4♠

Declarer (W)
♠ Q J 8 7 3
♥ -
♦ 9 6 4
♣ A Q 10 6 4 Dummy (E)
♠ A 10 9 6
♥ K Q J
♦ A 8 3
♣ 8 7 5

Refuse the finesse and win with A♠ at trick 1.
Then lead K♥ for a ruffing finesse, discarding South's 4♦.
After regaining the lead play the Q♥ discarding the 6♦.
Then draw trumps and double finesse the clubs.

4. Contract : 3NT Opening lead : Q♦

Declarer (W)
♠ K 9 2
♥ A K 3
♦ 6 3
♣ K J 9 6 4 Dummy (E)
♠ 7 5
♥ Q J 9 6
♦ A K 2
♣ A 10 8 3

Win the first trick with K♦ (no need to hold up).
Declarer must safeguard his unprotected K♠. This determines the way he plays the ♣ suit, which contains a two-way finesse. Declarer must finesse South (the danger man) for the Q♣, for if the finesse loses to North Declarer's K♠ remains safe.
Lead and win A♣, then lead 10♣ for a direct finesse in clubs.

5. Contract : 3NT Opening lead : Q♠

Declarer (W)
♠ A K 9
♥ A K Q
♦ 8 5 3
♣ K 7 5 4 Dummy (E)
♠ 7 3
♥ 9 6 2
♦ A Q 4 2
♣ A 9 3 2

Hold up the first ♠ trick, then win with the A♠.
At trick 3 lead K♣, then lead 4♣ and duck in Dummy.
If Opponents' ♣s are split 3-2 nine winners are secured.
Take the indirect finesse in ♦ last ! (For if the finesse loses, South will have no ♠ left to lead in case the ♠ are divided 5-3.)

© 2013 Michael Furstner

1. Contract : 3NT Opening lead : 5♠
Declarer (W) ♠ 9 4 ♥ A Q 2 ♦ Q 8 5 ♣ A J 9 7 3		Dummy (E) ♠ A 7 3 ♥ K 7 6 4 ♦ A 9 7 ♣ K 10 5
Hold up ♠ twice, then win the 3rd trick with A♠. Lead the 4♥ to Declarer's Q♥, then lead 9♣ for a Direct finesse of the Q♣. This gives S the lead if the finesse fails and safeguards against N holding 5 spades.
2. Contract : 3NT Opening lead : Q♦
Declarer (W) ♠ Q J 3 ♥ A 9 2 ♦ K 9 ♣ K Q 10 6 5		Dummy (E) ♠ A 10 6 4 ♥ K 8 6 3 ♦ A 5 3 ♣ J 8
Hold up ♦ once, then win 2nd trick with West's K♦. Lead 5♣ to Dummy's J♣ to dislodge South's A♣. Take the direct finesse in ♠ last. Rule : With one stopper left → lose to the long suited hand first !
3. Contract : 4♠ Opening lead : 4♠
Declarer (W) ♠ Q J 8 7 3 ♥ - ♦ 9 6 4 ♣ A Q 10 6 4		Dummy (E) ♠ A 10 9 6 ♥ K Q J ♦ A 8 3 ♣ 8 7 5
Refuse the finesse and win with A♠ at trick 1. Then lead K♥ for a ruffing finesse, discarding South's 4♦. After regaining the lead play the Q♥ discarding the 6♦. Then draw trumps and double finesse the clubs.
4. Contract : 3NT Opening lead : Q♦
Declarer (W) ♠ K 9 2 ♥ A K 3 ♦ 6 3 ♣ K J 9 6 4		Dummy (E) ♠ 7 5 ♥ Q J 9 6 ♦ A K 2 ♣ A 10 8 3
Win the first trick with K♦ (no need to hold up). Declarer must safeguard his unprotected K♠. This determines the way he plays the ♣ suit, which contains a two-way finesse. Declarer must finesse South (the danger man) for the Q♣, for if the finesse loses to North Declarer's K♠ remains safe. Lead and win A♣, then lead 10♣ for a direct finesse in clubs.
5. Contract : 3NT Opening lead : Q♠
Declarer (W) ♠ A K 9 ♥ A K Q ♦ 8 5 3 ♣ K 7 5 4		Dummy (E) ♠ 7 3 ♥ 9 6 2 ♦ A Q 4 2 ♣ A 9 3 2
Hold up the first ♠ trick, then win with the A♠. At trick 3 lead K♣, then lead 4♣ and duck in Dummy. If Opponents' ♣s are split 3-2 nine winners are secured. Take the indirect finesse in ♦ last ! (For if the finesse loses, South will have no ♠ left to lead in case the ♠ are divided 5-3.)
© 2013 Michael Furstner