Intra-Finesse

29th January – Board 11. Love All. Dealer South.

Using full minor suit transfers is a must for a number of reasons, one of which is highlighted in the following hand, which also contains the possibility of an extremely rare play.

	North: S Q 9 8 2 H none D J 6 4 C K Q 10 8 6 4
West: S 10 7 H 8 7 4 3 2 D 9 7 2 C A 7 2		East: S K J 5 4 H A Q 10 9 5 D K 10 3 C J
	South: S A 6 3 H K J 6 D A Q 8 5 C 9 5 3

West	North	East	South
			1NT
No	2C	No	2D
No	3C	End

North is quite right to look for a spade fit by using Stayman and when no such fit comes to light is equally right to sign off in 3C. In case there is some confusion as to whether the 3C bid is forcing or not all South has to realise is that with a strong hand with long clubs and four spades North would surely transfer to clubs first via 2S and then bid 3S over the reply. That leaves the sequence shown above as strictly non-forcing. East is more or less end played at trick one with any lead giving away a trick except the unlikely looking singleton trump. Left to his own devices declarer would play spades in the most natural manner by leading towards the queen at some point and losing two tricks in the process (but winning nine in all.) However, although it is well against the odds, declarer could lead a low spade to the eight and jack and then later lead the queen, smothering the ten on his right – the so-called intra-finesse. Not the right thing to do on this hand unless East has got busy in the auction and given away the position of the king of spades.