Bridge Bites

BRIDGE BITES #128

ESCHEWING THE FINESSE

Brian Gunnell

♠ A943

♥ AQJ5

♦ A54

♣ KQ

Both Vulnerable

South West North East

1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass

1♠ Pass 6♠ Pass

Pass Pass

Your writer cannot recall seeing the word “eschew” other than in bridge books. Football players and golfers never eschew, nor do NASCAR drivers, but bridge players seem to do it all the time. Here, North charges into slam (eschewing Blackwood), now see if you can make 12 tricks.

Dummy

West East

Declarer

♠ KJ75

♥ K72

♦ 97

♣ AJT4

6♠ is a fine place to be but, after the lead of the ♦K, you are in danger of losing a Spade and a Diamond. What are your options?

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You could take the trump finesse now, and that is certainly the percentage play when looking at the Spade suit in isolation. Of course, the danger is that, if the Spade finesse loses, Declarer will be down one in a hurry. Declarer can do better by combining her chances in two suits rather than staking everything on luck in the Spade suit. How?

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