Study 9P01   Main


Ruffing Finesse


  by Richard Pavlicek

A ruffing finesse is the lead of a significant side-suit card when the opposite hand is void, then ruffing or not depending on the whether LHO covers or plays low. When the ruffing finesse loses, it may still provide material gain with a loser-on-loser play, also covered here.

1.  Ruffing finesse

S win 3 S ATrickLead2nd3rd4th
H1. SH K!
D 3 2
C
STableS
H A 3H 2
D 4D K Q
CC
S
H K Q
D A
South leadsC

2.  Ruffing squash finesse

S win 3 S ATrickLead2nd3rd4th
H1. SH K!
D 3 2
C
STableS
H A 10H Q
D 4D K Q
CC
S
H K J
D A
South leadsC

3.  Finesse or ruffing finesse

S win 4 STrickLead2nd3rd4th
autoH A Q J1. SH 47
D A
C
STableS
H K 8 7H 6 5
D 2D K Q
CC
S 2
H 4
D 4 3
South leadsC

Option to play either opponent for H K.

4.  Desperation finesse

S win 3 S 2TrickLead2nd3rd4th
H A Q1. SH 23Q!10
D 32. NH AJD 2K
C
S ATableS 3
H K 3H J 10
D KD A
CC
S K Q
H 2
D 2
South leadsC

If East has H K, South wins only 1 trick.

5.  Loser-on-loser

S win 3 S ATrickLead2nd3rd4th
autoH1. SH K2C 4!A
D 5 4
C 4
STableS
H 3 2H A 5
D K QD
CC A K
S
H K Q
D A 2
South leadsC

Study 9P01   MainTop   Ruffing Finesse

6.  Repeat ruffing finesse

S win 5 S A KTrickLead2nd3rd4th
H1. SH Q!AS K2
D 4 3 22. ND 210A5
C3. SH J!
STableS
H A K 9H 3 2
D 6 5D Q J 10
CC
S
H Q J 10
D A K
South leadsC

7.  Repeat ruffing squash finesse

S win 5 S A KTrickLead2nd3rd4th
H1. SH Q!AS K9
D 4 3 22. ND 210A5
C3. SH J!
STableS
H A K 7H 10 9
D 6 5D Q J 10
CC
S
H Q J 8
D A K
South leadsC

8.  Loser-on-loser ruffing finesse

S win 4 S ATrickLead2nd3rd4th
autoH1. SH Q2D 2!A
D 5 4 3 22. ED QK63
C3. SH J!
STableS
H K 3 2H A 4
D 7 6D Q J 10
CC
S
H Q J 10
D A K
South leadsC

9.  Finesse and ruffing squash finesse

S win 4 STrickLead2nd3rd4th
auto?H K 10 91. SH 279!Q
D A K2. ED 6210K
C3. NH K!
STableS
H J 7H A Q 8
D Q J 10D 6 5
CC
S A
H 2
D 4 3 2
South leadsC

Appropriate if confident East has H A (third).

10.  Overtake ruffing finesse

S win 5 STrickLead2nd3rd4th
biH A J 10 91. SH K2A!6
D A2. NH J!
C
STableS
H 3 2H Q 8 7 6
D K Q JD 5
CC
S A
H K
D 4 3 2
South leadsC

With North on lead would be “undertake” instead.

Study 9P01   MainTop   Ruffing Finesse

11.  Jettison ruffing finesse

S win 4 S ATrickLead2nd3rd4th
H1. SH Q7D A!K
D A2. ED 3KC QC 2
C 4 3 23. SH JA
STableS
H A 7H K 9 8
DD 3 2
C A K QC
S K
H Q J 10
D K
South leadsC

12.  Jettison loser-on-loser trump control

S win 5 S ATrickLead2nd3rd4th
H1. SH 102D A!A
D A2. ED 2KH 3C 2
C 5 4 3 23. SH K!
S KTableS
H 3 2H A 9 8
DD 4 3 2
C A K QC
S 2
H K Q J 10
D K
South leadsC

Anti ruffing finesse

13.  Cover refusal anti ruffing finesse

S win 1 STrickLead2nd3rd4th
auto biH A 10 9 81. WH K8!D 32
D 22. WH Q9!D 4S 2
C
S A KTableS Q
H K Q JH
DD 6 5 4 3
CC
S 2
H 2
D A K Q
West leadsC

Auto/bi cases trivial.

14.  Immediate cover anti ruffing finesse

S win 2 STrickLead2nd3rd4th
auto biH A 4 31. WH JA!S J2
D 4 32. ED 5K73
C3. SS 2!
S KTableS A Q J
H K Q JH
D 7D 6 5
CC
S 3 2
H 2
D A K
West leadsC

Auto/bi cases trivial.

Study 9P01   MainTop   Ruffing Finesse

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek