BRIDGE

THE #1 MIND
SPORT
Playing High or Low
Finessing

Lesson 6
Finessing

Play a low card from the weak hand

(South) towards the strong hand
(North) and finesse the J.
It works every other time,
when the K is with West.
If you win the trick with the J, cross
to South in another suit and repeat Play the A from South.
the finesse. Then play the4 towards North’s K /J and
You win three tricks when West has the finesse.
K and two when East has the K.
Lesson 6:2 THE #1 MIND SPORT
Play towards Strength

Play the ♣3 towards the ♣K.

If West plays the ♣T,

Play the ♣K and win the trick.
N

V Ö

When you play a low card towards the king,

you score the king every second time!

Lesson 6:3 THE #1 MIND SPORT

 Second Hand Low
You are West.
When South plays ♠2 towards
dummy, play a low card (♠4) not to
loose a trick!
If you play the ♠A, South
N wins both ♠K and ♠Q!
V Ö

S If you play the ♠T, South

wins the ♠Q. He then plays
the ♠6 from North and
finesses. Again, South wins
both ♠Q and ♠K.

Play second hand low!

Lesson 6:4 THE #1 MIND SPORT
 Second Hand Low
When South plays ♠4 from the
hand, he has often decided to
cash ♠A and play towards ♠Q.
EW win two tricks!
What if West plays the ♠T
N
in the first trick?
V Ö

S
South changes his plan! After
♠A he plays ♠6 from dummy.
Syd finesses the ♠9 and looses
only one trick to EW!
West did not expect this when he
played the ♠T in the first trick!
In other words: second hand low!
Lesson 6:5 THE #1 MIND SPORT
Third Hand High

South plays 3NT. You are East.

West leads ♦5, 1-3-5.
What card do you play?
N
You play the ♦Q -
V Ö third hand high.
S
South wins with the ♦A.

Later, when you gain the lead, play

the ♦T – high from two, 1-3-5.

What happens otherwise?

Lesson 6:6 THE #1 MIND SPORT
… Never Higher than Needed!
South plays 3NT. You are East.
West leads ♠4, 1-3-5. South
plays ♠2 from dummy. Which
card do you play?

N
Play the ♠T and guard the ♠Q
V Ö with your ♠K.
S
West continues with ♠J and
South gets only one trick.

Third hand high but never

higher than needed!
Guard honor with honor!

Lesson 6:7 THE #1 MIND SPORT