{"id":111,"date":"2014-08-08T18:56:59","date_gmt":"2014-08-08T22:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/?p=111"},"modified":"2014-08-08T18:59:19","modified_gmt":"2014-08-08T22:59:19","slug":"dont-finesse-partner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/?p=111","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Finesse Partner"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s an axiom on defense, “don’t finesse partner”. \u00a0What does that mean? \u00a0Here’s an example:<\/p>\n

\"Board<\/a>

Board 8. Contract 1NT North<\/p><\/div>\n

The contract is 1NT by North after an uncontested auction 1D-1S-1NT. \u00a0East’s opening lead was the H6 to the 8 and K. \u00a0The H2 was returned to the 9 and A. \u00a0East shifted to her 4th best D\u00a0(the 6) and West “finessed her partner”, i.e. she assumed that North had the Ace and East the Queen. \u00a0She played the Jack and North took the Queen. \u00a0The Club Q was onside and careless discarding led to a top board for North-South.<\/p>\n

West’s error at trick 3 was not playing “Third Hand High”. \u00a0Dummy did not have an honor in the suit. \u00a0If North has the Ace and Queen it doesn’t matter which card you play. \u00a0If North has only the Ace then East has the Queen. \u00a0If North has the Queen (as was the case) then the King wins and the Jack return pins the 9 in dummy, establishing at least 3 tricks in the suit, 4 if East-West are patient.<\/p>\n

The lesson: \u00a0retain an honor when there’s a lower honor in Dummy. \u00a0If there’s no honor in dummy then usually you should play Third Hand High with this holding, especially at NT.<\/p>\n

I should point out an exception. \u00a0Suppose the opening<\/strong><\/em> lead against a suit<\/strong><\/em> contract is a low diamond and you hold KJx. \u00a0You should assume your partner doesn’t have the Ace. \u00a0Play the Jack to see who has the Queen. \u00a0This is only valid on opening lead against a suit contract<\/span>. \u00a0Mid-hand you should put the King up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There’s an axiom on defense, “don’t finesse partner”. \u00a0What does that mean? \u00a0Here’s an example: The contract is 1NT by North after an uncontested auction 1D-1S-1NT. \u00a0East’s opening lead was the H6 to the 8 and K. \u00a0The H2 was…
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