Marked Finesse

A "marked" finesse is a finesse made obvious by the auction or play of the hand.

Dummy

AT5

8542

QJ3

JT5

South

KJ3

AT

AKT42

Q76

West
2¹
Pass
North
Pass
3NT
East
Pass
All Pass
South
2NT

¹ Weak two

West leads the K against 3NT. South can count 1 heart winner, 5 diamond winners, and 2 spade winners. The 9th trick must come from either spades or clubs.

While it may seem plausible to lead clubs twice to establish a club winner, it's better to simply play West for the Q. Based on the auction, West should have six spades, leaving East with a singleton. Accordingly, South can cash the K (in case East pops up with the singleton queen) and lead a spade toward dummy for the "marked" finesse of West's queen.

The full deal:

North

AT5

8542

West KJ3 East

Q98764 JT5 2

KQJ 9763

5 South 9876

932 KJ3 AK84

AT

AQT42

Q76

Had South mistakenly led a club instead, the contract would go down. East would win the K, put West in with two hearts, and then regain the lead with the A. The 9 would be the setting trick.

West 2¹ Pass		North Pass 3NT		East Pass All Pass		South 2NT
¹ Weak two

	North
	AT5
	8542
West	KJ3	East
Q98764	JT5	2
KQJ		9763
5	South	9876
932	KJ3	AK84
	AT
	AQT42
	Q76