BRIDGE

To borrow a phrase (slightly modified) from our American neighbours for a Bridge Player's Constitution: “Not all finesses are created equal”.

North's opening bid was a semi-natural part of his partnership's Precision system: one diamond promised two or more diamonds with 11-15 high-card points in a hand lacking a five-card major and having no more than five clubs.

South's response was the value bid to get the auction over with and save time and energy for the play.

Apparently not enough of either for South to pick the winning line of play: he ducked the first two rounds of hearts and won the third to continue with a club to dummy to play a spade to the Jack.

Bad news when West produced the King, cashed the last heart and the diamond ace for a fast down one.

If the spade finesse had worked, South would have played on diamonds for one sure trick and nine overall but there was a slightly better line of play available.

After winning the third round of hearts, South might play a low diamond towards dummy.

Sometimes an impatient West will grab his ace, fearing that South will win the King and rattle off a bunch of clubs and eventually endplay a defender. Stranger things have happened!

Alternatively, dummy might win the diamond King for South to take a secondround finesse in the suit hoping to find the Jack with East.

Hypothetically, the diamond King might lose to the ace with East for a heart return but that would still leave South with options, perhaps after taking his club tricks, as to which finesse he would take for his ninth trick.