Count before you play
South to play 4♠︎
North♠︎ K Q 4♥︎ A 7 3♦︎ K 8 6 2♣︎ 9 5 3
West♠︎ 8 5♥︎ K Q J 10♦︎ Q J 9♣︎ K J 8 4
East♠︎ 6 3♥︎ 9 8 6 5♦︎ 10 7 4 3♣︎ Q 10 7
South♠︎ A J 10 9 7 2♥︎ 4 2♦︎ A 5♣︎ A 6 2
- Dealer
- South
- Vulnerable
- None
- Opening lead
- ♥︎K
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♠︎ | |||
| Pass | 2♠︎ | Pass | 4♠︎ |
| All pass |
You reach 4♠ and West leads the ♥︎K. Dummy has the ♣9 5 3 opposite your ♣A 6 2, and the club finesse looks tempting.
How do you plan the play?
What would you do?
1 vote
Solution
North♠︎ K Q 4♥︎ A 7 3♦︎ K 8 6 2♣︎ 9 5 3
West♠︎ 8 5♥︎ K Q J 10♦︎ Q J 9♣︎ K J 8 4
East♠︎ 6 3♥︎ 9 8 6 5♦︎ 10 7 4 3♣︎ Q 10 7
South♠︎ A J 10 9 7 2♥︎ 4 2♦︎ A 5♣︎ A 6 2
Count your top tricks first: six spades, the ♥︎A, ♦︎A K and ♣A — ten tricks without any finesse.
Win the ♥︎A, draw trumps in two rounds and claim. The club finesse can only add an overtrick; if it loses, West cashes hearts and clubs and a safe contract goes down.
Lesson: before you touch a finesse, count the tricks you already have.
Hand by Bridge Timer