"There was a young belle of old Natchez

Whose garments were always in patchez.

When comment arose

on the state of her clothes,

She drawled, 'When ah

itchez, ah scratchez.'"

- Ogden Nash

Some players treat finessing as an itch to be scratched. At 3NT, South led a heart to dummy at the second trick and scratched away by letting the queen of clubs ride. West won and led the jack of spades.

South had only eight tricks. Eventually he had to lead a diamond, and down he went.

FINESSE

South played as if he had poison oak. If East had the king of clubs, the finesse would win later. South must first try the diamonds. He leads a heart to dummy at Trick Two and returns a diamond. When East's ace appears, South gets home.

If East played low and South's king won, South could shift to clubs for nine tricks. If instead West took the ace of diamonds to continue spades, South would try a diamond to the queen. If the jack didn't fall, he could finesse in clubs.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S K 10 9 6 5 4 H 10 8 4 D A C 7 6 2. Your partner opens 1NT. The next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Before the advent of the popular "transfer" responses, this hand was all but unbiddable. The options were to underbid, overbid or misbid. Modern players respond two hearts, forcing opener to bid two spades, and then raise to three spades. This sequence shows a six-card spade suit and enough values to invite game.