FINESSING

Combining the Hands of Dealer and Dummy.

With any of the following combinations divided between the two hands, the lead should always be from the weaker hand, in the left-hand column, and the highest card should be led, always playing the smallest card from the stronger combination. For instance, in the first one given, you should lead the jack from J 10 x and play the small card from A K x. An "x" means any small card, or more than one small.

In One Hand.In the Other.
J 10 xA K x
x x xA K J
x x xA Q J
J x xA Q x
Q x x A J x
Q J xA x x
x x x K J 10
10 x x K J 10
J x x K 10 x
J x x K x x
x x x Q 10 x
10 x x Q x x

In the following combinations, the lead should be the best card in the weaker hand, and the smallest card in the stronger hand should be played to the first round, allowing the adversary to win the first trick. The weak hand must then get into the lead again, so as to take the second finesse, hoping both honours are not on the wrong side:

In One
Hand.		In the
Other.
x x xA J 10
10 x xA J x
x x xA J x
J 10 xA x x
x x x A J 9

SECOND-HAND PLAYS

Showing all of the different combinations between dealer and dummy and their play. The second hand is the hand that is led through, it being supposed that a small card is led.

2d Hand.4th Hand.Play.
A K x J x x K, or Low
A K x 10 x x King (T) Low (N T)
A Q x J x x Low
A Q x 10 x x Low
A Q x x x x Queen
A J x Q x x Low
A 10 x J x x Low
A x x Q x x Low
K Q x x x x Queen
K J x x x x Low
K J x x x Jack (T) K (N T)
K J A x x Jack
K J x 10 x x Low
K 10 x J x x Low
K x x Q x Low
K x x x Low (T) K (N T)
K x J x x Low
K x Q x x Low (T) K (N T)
K x Q 10 x Low
K x A 10 x Low
K x A J x Low
Q J x x x x Jack
Q J x A x x Jack
Q 10 x A x x Low
Q x x K x x Low
Q x x x x x Low
Q x A x x Queen
Q x A 10 x Low
Q x A J x Low
Q x K x x Low (T) Q (N T)
Q x J x x Low
Q x x x x Queen
J 10 x A K x Ten
J 10 x A x x Ten
J 10 x K x x Ten
J x K 10 x Low
J x K x x Jack
J x Q x x Low
J x A K x Jack
J x A Q x Low
10 x A K x Ten
10 x A Q x Ten
10 x A J x Low