The course
The finesse
Step 1 of 5
One honour, one finesse
You hold the king and one small card in dummy, and three small cards in your own hand. The ace is missing. If you lead the king out, whoever holds the ace takes it and your king is gone for nothing.
Instead, lead a small card from your hand towards the king. The player on your left must choose before dummy does — and if they hold the ace, they must either play it on air or watch the king win.
Take 1 trick.
Dummy
Lead from either hand.
Play a card from either hand. Play the line you would play — nothing here is scored, and you can start the suit again whenever you like.