BRIDGE

Some finesses are decidedly better than others, a cruel fact of bridge life that today's South learned the hard way.

North's negative double would usually deliver at least four cards in each major, a likelihood that dissuaded East from bidding – just as well as South's slightly careless choice of which finesse(s) to take delivered a plus score to the defenders.

Against two diamonds, West cashed his two high spades before shifting to the nine of hearts.

Recognizing he was likely to lose a heart trick anyway, South decided to try the heart finesse just in case his opponent's shift was an error – leading away from the heart King with North's holding in view would surely be an error – by playing low from dummy.

No good for South!

East won the heart King and cashed the spade ace to allow his partner to discard his remaining heart. A heart ruff quickly followed by the club ace gave the first six tricks to the defense for a fast down one!

Arithmetic of the game that even the best experts can't overcome: if you need eight tricks for your contract and the opponents take the first six, you will not succeed!

Yes, there was a slim chance West had led away from the heart King, but there were lots of attendant dangers if he hadn't.

A less hazardous route to a possible eight tricks for the offense was available via a different finesse: win the ace of hearts at trick three to play a diamond to the Jack. If the trump suit played for six winners, the heart finesse, and the attendant danger if it failed, would be unnecessary.