CONTRACT BRIDGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1932, Page 6

CONTRACT BRIDGE

FINESSES A LAST RESORT,

(By ELY CULBERTSON.)

"Too bad, partner, we're down one, but both tlio finesses lost." How often you hear that remark at the Contract table and at least fifty per cent of the time the losing Unease need not have been taken. The play of the hand could have been so planned as to eliminate the element of luck, which is such a tremendous factor in the taking of finesses, and the lead placed in such a way that an opponent would have relieved the declarer of the necessity of taking a chance. I do not mean to be understood as saying that finesses arc never necessary. Of course they are. But there are many har.ds in which needless finesses are taken and as a result of what appears to her an unfortunate lay of 'the cards, the declarer loses a contract which could have been jnade by accurate play. Take the hand below:

South, Dealer. Both sides vulnerable. A-9 5 V—7 6 4 2 $—10 9 6 5 2 *-J 2 4&—A l< Q8 6 3 : —m <fc— J 10 7 2 V—lo 9 5 w E V—A Q 8 ♦-A K s $-8 7 3 #— 9 6 I *— 8 5 4 A—4 V—K J 3 ♦—Q J 4 j,— A KQIO 7 3 The Bidding. (The figures nfter bids in table- refer to numbered explanatory paragraphs.) South West North East 1 * 2 4 (1) Pass 3 A (2) Pass (3) 4 (4) Pass Pass Pass I.—West's hand is a beautiful example of a hand fitted for the jump ovcrcall, which shows another bid in the hand and more than three honour tricks. 2.—West was extremely fortunate in finding a partner having not only adequate support for his bid suit, but also a trick and a half in addition. 3.—With a passing partner South cannot safely bid further. He may be compelled to lead both Hearts and Diamonds from his own hand, resulting in a penalty of from two to three tricks, and it is by no means certain that West can score game. -J. —Holding apparently eight playing tricks, West's bid ofi four Spades is fully justified. North opened the Club Knave in res|K>nse to his partner's bid. Ho did not heed the warning implied in South'a play of the trey and continued the suit. This trick South won and led another round, the declarer trumping with an honour. Two round* of Spades picked up the adverse trumjw and then the Ace and King of Diamonds were cashed. A small Spade was then led to the dummy and the last Diamond led and trumped in the closed hand.

'The stage was now set for the making of the contract, regardless of the lie of the Heart suit. West now led a small Heart, and the eight-spot was finessed in the dummy. This trick was won by South, but ho was absolutely helpless. To lead a Club permits the closed hand to discard his losing Heart and trump in the dummy. A Heart lead must give the reoiiaining tricks to the declarer. Had this hand been played on the basis of the taking of finesses, the contract must be defeated one trick, and Quid not both Clubs and Diamonds been eliminate*! before the one needed finesse, was taken, the same result would have followed.

The hand also contains a suggestion for accurate defensive play. Had North, after holding the first Club trick with the Knave, shifted and ]<>d through dummy's strength, as' emphatically suggested by South, the contract could have been made. There was only one holding, namely, KJ x, that would make the Heart lead advantageous, and North should have visioned those cards in his partner's hand. The hope that he could cash one of his Spades on the third round of Clubs caused North to disregard the warning play of the email Club, and thut; afforded West an opportunity to make his game.