This Week in Bridge
(609) The Entry Finesse
© AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 8 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
When we look at a card combination in a suit, we normally focus on how we can best play these cards to produce the most tricks in this suit. But remember that our goal is to use all of our cards to produce the maximum number of tricks from them. That means that sometimes we play a particular suit in a less-than-optimal fashion (differently than if we were only playing that suit, or looking that suit up in a book), in order to allow ourselves to take the maximum number of overall tricks. One of reasons that we may play a suit differently than a textbook will tell us to do is to give us additional entries to one of the hands. One of the ways that we may try to produce additional entries is by taking an unnecessary or less than optimal finesse. Let’s see how this can work to our advantage.
Entry Finesse
Sometimes we need more entries to the dummy than we have with high cards. Let’s look at some ways we can play the hand in a “special way” to try and give us more entries.
Example 1
How do we play the ♠ suit to give us three entries to the dummy?
Dummy
♠ A Q T
Declarer
♠ K 3 2
We have three sure tricks – Ace, King, and Queen. But if we need to get to the dummy 3 times, then our best chance of doing that is to take the finesse – lead the ♠2 (or ♠3) up to the ♠T. This is a finesse that risks turning 3 winners into 2 winners, but it gives us another entry to the dummy that might allow us to make the hand.
Note: We could play the ♠K and overtake with the ♠A. Then play a ♠ to the ♠Q and hope the ♠J falls. ♠Jx is a smaller chance of happening than the ♠J being onside.
Example 2
How do we play the ♣ suit to give us two entries to the dummy?
Dummy
♣ A J
Declarer
♣ K 3
Here we lead a low ♣ up to the Jack. This gives us one entry to the dummy. We then play the ♣K and overtake it with the ♣A – giving us two entries to the dummy.
Example 3
How do we play the ♥ suit to give us two entries to the dummy?
Dummy
♥ A T 2
Declarer
♥ K Q 5 4 3
The normal way to play this suit is to play the honors from the top and assume the suit will split 3/2. But that is not the best way to try and enter the dummy twice. We play the King and then lead low to and play the Ten – finessing the Jack.
Example 4
How do we play the ♦ suit to give us two entries to the dummy?
Dummy
♦ K T 2
Declarer
♦ A Q 3
Again, if we need 2 entrances to the dummy we lead up towards the dummy and insert the ♦ T – finessing the Jack.
Note: There is a funny little play here, LHO could play the Jack (pop up) and prevent us from getting to the dummy twice. This could also have been done on Example 3.
Conclusion
On some hands, in order to make the contract, we need to get to the dummy more times than we have easy access. We often need these entries to help us establish a long suit or repeat a finesse. That means we may need to play a suit in a less-than-perfect way, to try to get more than just tricks from it – we need tricks and transportation. The way we do this is often by taking an unnecessary finesse and providing us with the extra entry to the dummy we need (this could also be done to our hand). Keep an eye out for these fun plays!