BP L03 Finer Points of Finessing - Bridge Card Play Notes

Aug 23, 2026

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Bridge card play notes on finesse techniques, explaining how a finesse is executed to win additional tricks when the missing honour is favorably positioned. Covers onside/onside concepts, tenaces and common terminology such as the “hook.” Details direct vs indirect finesses, including forked honours, double/deep and triple finesses with probability considerations. Also discusses leading high to preserve entries and the ruffing finesse variation in trump contracts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Direct and Indirect

Forked Honours

Double/Deep and Triple Finesses

Leading High for a Finesse

The Ruffing Finesse

| | BP L03 Finer Points of Finessing NOTES | | --- | --- | | The Finesse
A Finesse is a card play technique to win an additional trick or tricks should there be a favourable position of cards in the hands of the opponents .
To finesse a card is to play that card.
West East
􀁫 A Q 􀁫 7 2
In the example, the Queen is finessed. The outstanding King is the card finessed against: the card the player hopes to capture by the finessing manoeuvre .
A finesse is said to be onside or on if the missing honour is favourably placed and offside or off if it is not.
Many finesses involve a tenace (a combination of non-touching honors in the same hand, not necessarily the A and 10), For example: 􀁫A Q or 􀁫K J.
The term hook is a colloquialism for finesse .
[https://d.docs.live.net/f66f8dfda5c9a32f/Bridge Teaching/Courses](https://d.docs.live.net/f66f8dfda5c9a32f/Bridge Teaching/Courses) and Lessons/Advanced Card Play/BFP BP L03 Finessing Finer Points/BFP BP L03 NOTES Finessing Finer Points.docx © Nicky Bainbridge Jul-23
[www.bridgeforpleasure.co.uk](www.bridgeforpleasure.co.uk) Page 1 of 10 Last saved by Rugby Village Bridge Club 26 July 2023 | | | | BP L03 Finer Points of Finessing NOTES | | --- | --- | | Direct and Indirect
A direct finesse is a finesse that gains a trick without losing one, as long as it is "on" .
For example:
West East
􀁪 A Q 􀁪 5 2
If East (declarer) is on lead he can lead to the queen; that is, he leads a small spade and, if South plays low, plays the queen
from dummy. If South is holding the king ("onside"), East-West will win two tricks . If the finesse is not tried, there will be only one winning trick from this heart holding. If South plays the king on the first trick, East-West win two tricks by covering with the ace .
An indirect finesse is a finesse that gains a trick- if it is on-but may involve losing a trick first. For example:
West East
􀁩 K Q 3 􀁩 7 2
East leads a diamond toward the king; if South holds the ace, the king will either win the current trick or will become the highest remaining diamond and win a later trick.
[https://d.docs.live.net/f66f8dfda5c9a32f/Bridge Teaching/Courses](https://d.docs.live.net/f66f8dfda5c9a32f/Bridge Teaching/Courses) and Lessons/Advanced Card Play/BFP BP L03 Finessing Finer Points/BFP BP L03 NOTES Finessing Finer Points.docx © Nicky Bainbridge Jul-23
[www.bridgeforpleasure.co.uk](www.bridgeforpleasure.co.uk) Page 2 of 10 Last saved by Rugby Village Bridge Club 26 July 2023 | | BP L03 Finer Points of Finessing NOTES Another kind of indirect finesse – “forked honours” West East 􀁩 Q 5 4 3 􀁩 A 7 6 2 The best play is a small card from the East hand, away from the Ace and towards the Queen . If South holds the King and plays it, West plays low, but there are now two masters in Diamonds . If South holds the King and plays low, West plays the Queen, and East still has the Ace . If South plays low, West plays the Queen and North plays the King. East still has the Ace . [https://d.docs.live.net/f66f8dfda5c9a32f/Bridge Teaching/Courses](https://d.docs.live.net/f66f8dfda5c9a32f/Bridge Teaching/Courses) and Lessons/Advanced Card Play/BFP BP L03 Finessing Finer Points/BFP BP L03 NOTES Finessing Finer Points.docx © Nicky Bainbridge Jul-23 [www.bridgeforpleasure.co.uk](www.bridgeforpleasure.co.uk) Page 3 of 10 Last saved by Rugby Village Bridge Club 26 July 2023 | | BP L03 Finer Points of Finessing NOTES | | --- | --- | | A double/deep finesse
is a finesse against two honours held by the opponents .
Sometimes it can gain two tricks:
West East
􀁫 A Q 10 􀁫 7 4 3
East leads a spade twice .
East-West will take three spade tricks if South has both the king and the jack (probability about 25% in the absence of any information), two if North and South have one each (50%), but only one if North has both (25%) .
Other times it can gain one trick:
West East
􀁫 A J 10 􀁫 7 4 3
East le

FAQs

What is a finesse in bridge and what is its purpose?

A finesse is a card play technique designed to win an additional trick (or tricks) by playing a card so the opponent’s position of honours produces a favorable result. To finesse a card is to play it.

What does onside/onside (“on”) versus offside/“off” mean for finesses?

A finesse is on when the missing honour is favorably placed for the capture; it is off when it is not. That placement determines whether the finesse wins as intended.

How do direct and indirect finesses differ?

A direct finesse gains a trick without losing one as long as it is on. An indirect finesse gains a trick if it is on, but it may require losing a trick first.

Aug 23, 2026

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