April 2021 - 50

Newer Players

Reasoning with Robert
Fundamentals of declarer play - combining your chances

T

o fully develop as declarer, you
must do more than just learn
how to produce tricks through
promotion, length or finesse. It's often
not about choosing among these skills
but combining them in sophisticated
and interesting ways to improve your
chances of taking more tricks.
Let's look at how you might combine
the techniques we have been learning.

Promotion + length
West	East
K Q 5 4 3 2	
J
Once you knock out the ace, you have
promoted two tricks. If the suit splits
3-3, you will produce additional tricks
through length - five tricks total.

Promotion + finesse
West	East
A Q J 10	
432
Try the finesse. If it wins, and you
have the entries to repeat it, you will
take four tricks. But even if it loses, you
have promoted additional tricks - you
are guaranteed at least three tricks.

Length + finesse
West	East
A K J 3 2	
54
If a finesse of the jack succeeds and
the suit splits 3-3, you will take five
tricks.

Promotion + length + finesse

trick. If the suit splits 3-3 or 4-2, you
will develop additional tricks through
length. In a perfect world, the suit will
split 3-3, the king will be onside and
you will win five tricks.
Here is another example of the three
techniques together in action:
	
A96
K J 10 3 2		
	
Q 8 5	

74

A finesse of the jack will knock out
the ace, promoting your king. Repeat
the finesse and take four tricks when
the suit splits 3-3.

Combining chances in
multiple suits

You can combine chances by using
one technique in one suit and trying
another technique in another suit. If
you can afford to give up the lead, then
you may be able to finesse in each suit
- a 75% line of play - but if you cannot
afford to surrender the lead, then you
need to have another option.

Length + finesse

The contract is notrump and you can't
afford to surrender the lead. Say you
need four tricks with a holding such as:
AKQ2	

5 4 3,

and another suit where you could take
a finesse, such as
A Q	

5 4.

If you can't give up the lead, first try
the long suit. If it splits 3-3, about a
West	East	
36% chance, you will produce your
A Q J 3 2	
54
fourth trick. If the suit does not split
3-3, then fall back on the finesse in the
Here you might produce additional
other suit, which will be successful
tricks by combining the three techabout half the time. That gives you a
niques. If the finesse fails, you've
combined 68% chance of making the
promoted an honor into an additional

50 | Bridge Bulletin | April 2021

BY ROBERT S. TODD

robert@advinbridge.com
advinbridge.com

contract by combining the two lines of
play.

Length in two suits + finesse

Imagine you have two 4-4 fits missing
the queen, such as A-K-J-10 opposite
four small. Rather than guess which
finesse to take - a 50% chance - you
can improve your chances by cashing the A-K of one suit before trying a
finesse in the second suit. If the queen
drops, you have increased your chances
of developing extra tricks.
Combine your chances in a way that
allows you to keep taking chances.

Pros and cons

When considering using one of these
techniques, or a combination of them,
weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each possible line of play.
The certainty of producing a trick (or
tricks) = pro.
Developing additional tricks for the
opponents (ones they could not otherwise take) = con.
Giving up the lead to the opponents
(allowing them to cash their tricks) =
con.
http://www.advinbridge.com
April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2021
