Chinese Finesse

The lead of an unsupported honor card to attempt a finesse which if covered wouldn't possibly work. The typical situation could be:

                     AK2

       Q54                   T76

                    J983

Needing 3 tricks, from the suit and thinking West has the Queen South leads the Jack.  If West fails to cover South will make his 3 tricks.  To cover is easy double dummy, but when defending a hand the problem may not be so easy:

                                                   W      N      E      S

A4

Q53                                                  P     1NT   P

KT73                                      3NT   P      P       P

9754

                   K753

                   JT52

                   642

                   T2

Your lead of the  J hits pay dirt when dummy plays low and it holds, partner playing the 8.  You continue with the 10, and then another and partner cashes the fourth and final heart, declarer pitching a club and a spade, and dummy a diamond.  Partner now exits the 3, east winning the  Queen.  Declarer puts the Queen on the table - do you cover ?  Declarer could have either:

   (A)           or             (B)

Qx                           QJ9

AQJxx                     AQJx

A                             A

If declarer has (A) you must cover, with (B) you must duck.  If you cover in the (B) position, declarer can then finesse north for the 10 and the 9th trick.  Note that declarer knows south has the  King, as north, who passed in first seat, has already shown up with 10 HCP.

Compiled by Lorne Russell 2005