Intra-Finesse

An intra-finesse is a rare finesse that may be employed when missing 3 honor cards. It's similar to the triple finesse in this regard. Unlike the triple finesse, however, declarer does not finesse a particular defender twice. Rather, declarer finesses each defender one at a time.

For instance:

		Dummy
		A863
West				East
KT5				J2
		South
		Q974

A common approach for South to score three tricks is to play the ace and lead low toward the queen. This doesn't work on the given layout. An intra-finesse, however, does. South can lead a low spade from dummy and stick in the 9. West wins the T and returns another suit. Upon regaining the lead, South can lead the Q to finesse West for the king. East's jack is smothered in the process.

Another intra-finesse opportunity:

		Dummy
		A82
West				East
KQ6				T7
		South
		J9543

Lead low to the 9, then run the jack. Again, note the smothering aspect of the second finesse.

		Dummy
		A75
		A65
		QT87
		K76
		South
		QJ
		J982
		KJ94
		A85

West 22

North 3NT

East Pass All Pass

South 1NT1

South arrives in 3NT and West leads the Q. South ducks this, wins the continuation in dummy, and leads the K and another diamond. West discards a low spade on the second round as East takes the A. At trick 5, East exits with a diamond to South's jack while West discards a club.

South now attempts the spade finesse by leading the Q, but East produces the K. The situation is now:

		Dummy
		A7
		A65
		Q
		7
		South
		J
		J982
		9
		A

South needs two heart tricks to make 3NT. When East elects to return a diamond, South wins perforce in dummy and leads a low heart to the 8. West wins the Q and exits with a club. South wins in hand, cashes the J, and leads the J... king, ace, ten. The 9 becomes the 9th trick.

The full deal:

		Dummy
		A75
		A65
West		QT87		East
942		K76		KT863
KQ73				T4
5		South		A632
QJT93		QJ		42
		J982
		KJ94
		A85