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DEFENSIVE USES
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OFFENSIVE USES
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- CAUTION! - Leading up to tenace on board can finesse partner
- CAUTION! - Leading up to strong declarer hand (opened a no trump) can finesse partner.
- General Rule - Lead through tenaces, not up to.
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- Winning a single needed trick
- Improving your chances of setting up a suit
- Gaining a winner for a discard
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RELATED DEFENSIVE
TERMS
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BRIDGE CONCEPT: FINESSE
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RELATED OFFENSIVE
TERMS
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- Lead Through - As in "lead through strength." You play, the strong hand plays, then partner gets a chance to play.
- Lead Up To - You do not want to "lead up to a tenace." If you see an A-Q in the dummy, and you play first and dummy plays last, do not lead that suit if you or partner has the King.
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- Leading towards a tenace, any sequence missing an intervening card, in the hopes that intervening card is onside and you can decide to play your high or low card after the opponent has played.
- Absent other information a finesse has a 50% chance of succeeding.
- From Watson's The Play of the Hand - A finesse is a "play which is sure to win a trick if the higher missing honor is in a favorable position."
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- Onside - The card you seek is favorably placed so that the finesse will work. Bidding and play may reveal clues.
- Offside - The card you seek is unfavorably placed and the finesse will NOT work.
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RELATED PLAYS
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CONTRAINDICATIONS
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- ruffing finesse - Leading from a sequence towards a void, planning to ruff if covered and discard if not covered.
- finesse a single honor - Leading towards an honor, such as the king, hoping first opponent rises with the ace to set up your king, or ducks and lets your king win.
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- Bidding indicates intervening card is offside.
- Better than 50% chance exists elsewhere.
- Other opportunities can be safely tried first. (Cashing winners, playing for a drop)
- Dangerous defender could gain lead.
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