Spades Strategy: Finesse Review Quiz

Now it's time to practice what you've learned.

For the next few examples, select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks from each tenace.

Quiz #1

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks from the AQ tenace.

Playing the Q has a 50% chance of an extra trick - if East holds the K we gain 2 tricks in the suit.

Quiz #2

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks from the AJT tenace.

Playing the J or T has a 75% of an extra trick - if East holds one of the K or Q, we gain 2 tricks in the suit.

Continuing with the same hand...

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks from the AJT tenace on the second lead.

After the first finesse fails, there is still a 50% chance at two tricks if East holds the missing K or Q.

Quiz #3

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks from the AQT tenace.

The best chance of extra tricks with AQT is to cover whatever East has played with the lowest card from AQT, a 75% chance of winning extra tricks.

There is a 25% chance of 3 tricks when East holds the K and J, and a 50% chance of 2 tricks when East holds only one of the K or J.

The reason the T is played instead of the Q when East plays low is if East has both K and J, playing the Q promotes East's holding and forfeits an extra trick.

Continuing with the same hand...

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks from the AQT tenace on the second lead.

After the first finesse fails, there is still a 50% chance at two tricks if East holds the missing K.

Quiz #4

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks when partner leads the missing Q.

If East is holding the missing K, partner's Q will win the trick.

Continuing the same hand...

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks with the newly promoted AJ holding missing just the K.

East is almost certain to have the K since West did not win the trick.

Quiz #5

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks when partner leads the missing J.

If we put partner's Jack lead to work, we can treat this situation like the AJT tenace.

Continuing the same hand...

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks with the newly promoted AT holding missing just the K.

Our hearts suit will produce 2 tricks whenever East started with at least one of the missing K or Q.

Quiz #6

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks from the AKJ tenace.

Winning the A or K on the first lead of the suit prevents West from winning a singleton Q.

It also allows us a chance to see if East drops the Q on the second lead of the suit.

Continuing the same hand...

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks on the second lead of a suit containing the AKJ tenace.

On the second lead, we will win an extra trick by playing the J whenever East has the missing Q and has played low.

Quiz #7

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks from the AQT tenace.

With the AQT tenace, the strategy is to cover whatever East has played with the lowest honor of our AQT and finesse East for the missing honor on the second lead as well.

Quiz #8

Select the card that gives the best chances for extra tricks when partner leads the missing J.

Whenever partner gives us a finesse opprtunity but East covers, that is the time to cover what East has played.

It will promote whatever cards our team is holding (in this case, the T and 9 become second best and will win the third lead of the suit).

For the next few examples, decide whether we should finesse or not based on bids, tricks made, and suit length.

Assume it is the first lead of the suit and all 13 cards still remain in the suit.

Select the Ace if the finesse should be refused or click the appropriate card to finesse with if a finesse should be attempted.

Quiz #9

Select the Ace if the finesse should be refused or click the appropriate card to finesse with if a finesse should be attempted.

With a 3 card suit and no difference between East and West's bids, an attempted finesse that fails should likely be harmless.

Quiz #10

Select the Ace if the finesse should be refused or click the appropriate card to finesse with if a finesse should be attempted.

With West having such a large bid, it is likely that West has the missing K. If West is holding it, it will win regardless of our play.

It is better to win our A on this first lead and let West's K win the second lead of the suit where it is slightly more likely to get trumped.

Quiz #11

Select the Ace if the finesse should be refused or click the appropriate card to finesse with if a finesse should be attempted.

With a suit length of 5 or longer, it becomes quite likely that an opponent will be able to trump the second round of the suit if the finesse fails.

Quiz #12

Select the Ace if the finesse should be refused or click the appropriate card to finesse with if a finesse should be attempted.

With East having such a large bid, it is much more likely East has the missing K than West does, making our finesse much more likely to succeed.

Quiz #13

Select the Ace if the finesse should be refused or click the appropriate card to finesse with if a finesse should be attempted.

Astute players will see that despite having a higher bid than East, West has already made all of his tricks.

Since East still has made none of his 2 bid tricks, it is more likely that East has the missing K.

Congratulations! You've reached the end of the lesson. You are now a finessing scholar. Click "Back to Lessons" to be taken back to the lessons page.