The method of simple finessing position is as old as the game of bridge itself in the early twentieth century. But the ruffing finesse is one of the improved techniques developed over the years. And it has been applied eversince extensively by good bridge players.

One of the players, who received International Bridge Press Association (IBPA) award for the best played hand of the year for executing ruffing finesse, was Meckstroth, one of the players of the American team during the play in Bermuda Bowl, World Bridge Championship in 1997. He deserved the award for quick judgment and playing the deal without pausing for a single moment. His quick decision at play led the opponent to go wrong. Helgemo was mesmerized by the moves made by Meckstroth, and was caught in the trap imaginatively laid by him. As a result he made an impossible game contract of five clubs as partly reported by Mark Horton.

The complete deal and the bidding is given as under:

(1) Long club suit with weak hand

North led diamond 7

On the lead when the dummy came down Meckstroth regretted his bid of 4 clubs when the contract of 3NT was a moral certainty, as the club suit should behave on percentage play with 8-2 combination in club suit. And the contract of 3NT could have been made with one overtrick for better score whereas 5 Club contract would have to go down by one trick.

Meckstroth, however, kept his nerve, quietly played 10 of diamond from the dummy which was by South with the queen. Sensing the weakness of the declarer for the attacking lead of diamond suit Helgemo returned 3 of diamond. On that Meckstroth, discarded 3 of Hearts and won the trick in dummy with the ace and quickly played a small heart, South also played a small, North won the King of hearts. That move set up a ruffing finesse position for the West against the ace of hearts likely to be with the South. At this point he played a small spade that was won in the dummy with the ace and now the declarer played the jack of hearts and took the ruffing finesse and discarded a losing spade on it. That was end of the game.

Meckstroth took a sigh of relief and apologized to Rodwell for taking him out of 3NT contract which was a sitter against any defence, particularly with the King of clubs and a small card held by him. And his own hand was entryless, although he had a good 8-card club suit.

The bidding:

=====================================

West         North     East     South

Meckstroth   Helness   Rodwell  Helgemo

                       1H       Pass

3C (1)       Pass      3NT      Pass

4C           Pass      5C       Pass

Pass         Pass

====================================

Dealer East

Both sides vulnerable

North

S K753

H K8

D KJ974

C 32

West

S 104

H Q3

D 5

C AJ1097654

East

S A98

H J10652

D A102

C K8

South

S QJ62

H A974

D Q863

C Q

Golden tips:

Presence of mind in bridge coverts a losing proposition into glorious victory.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004