Leave a narrow uncut portion to serve as a hinge for controlling the fall of the tree. If the saw begins to bind in a closing cut, you may have misjudged it. At the very first indication of binding, remove the saw. If it is too late to remove the saw, do not struggle with it. Shut off the engine, and plan a way to remove the saw using wedges.
Wedges are the most dependable way of controlling the direction a tree falls.
Using two wedges rather than one is best. Two wedges allow better control and ensure a forward fall of the tree. The path of the butt of a falling tree is unpredictable. Being struck by the butt, rebounding limbs or broken tops is the second most common cause of death to those felling timber. Controlling tree fall comes with experience.