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Extracting the Queen from Opposition
"Eight ever, nine never" is a designed to help the declarer who has eight or nine cards in a
suit
including the Ace and King and who is trying to decide whether or not to take a finesse and cannot
afford to lose a trick in the suit.
This is a common rhyme used in Bridge circles designed to help memorise the rule where declarer has eight or nine cards in a suit including the Ace and King, and is trying to choose a strategy for drawing the opponent's' queen without losing a trick.
This is a common rhyme used in Bridge circles designed to help memorise the rule where declarer has eight or nine cards in a suit including the Ace and King, and is trying to choose a strategy for drawing the opponent's' queen without losing a trick.
Definition
'Eight Ever' means when you hold an 8 card fit in a suit you should always try for the finesse to win the outstanding queen.You must hold the Ace and the King in the same suit.'Nine, Never' means that you should never chance a finesse when you hold a 9 card fit. Instead you should play for the drop. Playing for "the drop" means that the opponent who has the queen has only one or two cards in the suit and that declarer playing the Ace and King will 'drop' the Queen.
The Odds
Faced with the decision between making a finesse or playing for 'the drop' declarer should look at his holding in the suit. The finesse has a 50-50 chance of success, whereas playing for the drop with a 9 card suit has a slightly higher percentage success at 53%. The drop becomes more likely to succeed the more cards the declarer holds in the suit.North
West
East
South
The Rules
With a nine card fit - leading out your Ace and King gives a 3% better chance of success than playing for the finesse of the outstanding Queen honor card.Solution
In the hand below try making the heart finesse and then redeal and play for the drop.Instant Progress Quiz - Check all correct answers
Practice This Lesson
Practice playing for the drop on the computer. Then re-deal this hand finesse to see the difference in tricks made.
PLAYExtra for Experts
A different game on the same subject as this lesson, with questions for community discussion in the comments area below.
PLAY