Editing Finesse (section)

===Ann Gallagher finesse===
An ''Ann Gallagher finesse'' is a special sort of two-way finesse. Instead of deciding which way to finesse, though, declarer finesses both ways. This is the classic example:

{{BridgeHandNWES
|Label = South in 4{{hearts}} 
|Lead = Lead: {{spades}}K
|A|K&thinsp;3&thinsp;2|K&thinsp;7&thinsp;6&thinsp;5|A&thinsp;K&thinsp;Q&thinsp;J&thinsp;2
|K&thinsp;Q&thinsp;J&thinsp;10&thinsp;9|Q&thinsp;7&thinsp;5&thinsp;4|10&thinsp;4|4&thinsp;3
|4&thinsp;3&thinsp;2|6|A&thinsp;Q&thinsp;J&thinsp;9&thinsp;8&thinsp;3|9&thinsp;8&thinsp;7
|8&thinsp;7&thinsp;6&thinsp;5|A&thinsp;J&thinsp;10&thinsp;9&thinsp;8|2|10&thinsp;6&thinsp;5
}} Against South's 4{{Hearts}} contract, West leads the {{Spades}}K, removing an entry that might have proven useful later. South leads the {{Hearts}}2 from dummy and finesses the {{Hearts}}J. West can see that, with the clubs probably running, South will have no problem if West wins his {{Hearts}}Q. So West ducks smoothly.

A trusting player sitting South would now lead the {{Hearts}}8 to the {{Hearts}}K, preparing to finesse East again for the {{Hearts}}Q, but East's discard would come as a shock. After taking the {{Hearts}}K, South can't knock out West's {{Hearts}}Q without allowing the defense to take at least two spades, a heart and a diamond.

After the {{Hearts}}J wins at trick 2, South's ''only'' correct play is to finesse West for the {{Hearts}}Q, even though he has apparently and successfully finessed East for the same card. The point is to guard against West's clever [[Contract bridge glossary#H|holdup]].

The reason for the term ''Ann Gallagher finesse'' is found in a New York Times article.<ref>New York Times, April 14, 1983. [https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/14/nyregion/bridge-the-tale-of-an-old-finesse-ends-rather-unexpectedly.html Full text link]</ref> Ann Gallagher was a movie actress in the 1930s. She enjoyed bridge, and when she won a two-way finesse she would repeat it in the opposite direction, saying "Now let's see if I'm really lucky."{{clear}}