Sentence:  Again, no amount of writing, and apparently no amount of practice, will induce a player to see that it is not always right to <WSD>finesse</WSD> an Ace Queen. We have seen all the trumps out. We have led a suit (Hearts) of which our partner had Ace, Queen, and two long Clubs; he <WSD>finessed</WSD> the Queen, and did not make his two Clubs. ... Twice in a fortnight have we have the Ace Queen <WSD>finessed</WSD> when two cards only remained in each hand and one trump was in. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To play (a card) as a finesse. (from mid 18th c.)