FINESSE OR NOT?

You play for example the King of Diamonds for the ♦4 to the left and the ♦5 to the right. Then you play the ♦2 and you see the ♦6 to the left. Only the ♦Q and the ♦7 remain out.

Do you play the Ace (what is called playing to the head) or do you finesse by calling the Jack? Note that no decision is stupid! The card positions could be for example ♦Q64 | ♦75 (you must finesse) or ♦764 | ♦Q5 (you must play to the head).

It is a question of probabilities and I will spare you the calculations. Because the resulting rule is very simple when you do not know anything special about the opponents' hands otherwise.

In Diamonds, you have five cards, KJ942, in South and the dummy has three, A63, in North. Without special information, how do you play?

Section Quiz

You play Ace-King because you have five cards in your hand

You play Ace-King because you have the majority of the cards

Try finessing to the Queen

Your side has ten cards in a suit and the King is missing. Without special information, how do you play?

Section Quiz

Finesse to the King

Draw the Ace because ten cards exceed eight

Apply the six-card limit

In the example, count the Diamonds cards in your side: you have 8. So: you finesse, it is the best chance.

With nine cards, you play Ace-King to the head according to the rule, but the opposing Queen does not drop. Your partner now wants to make all finesses, regardless of the number of cards. What do you tell him?

Section Quiz

The rule guarantees success, so an opponent played badly

This deal is not enough to abandon the rule

He is right: the failure proves the rule was bad

Partner opens 1NT. You have 10 HCP, four Spades and three Hearts. Which response allows searching for the best game contract?

Reactivation of knowledge

2♥

3NT immediately

2♣

Choose carefully between finesse and playing to the head on these deals, and become a pro of the 6-8-10 rule: