The Fearsome Foursome

A couple of days ago Kathie and the ladies from MPP, Sally and Claire sat down with me at a table on BBO to play some bridge.

Claire and Sally who sit near each other played together and I could hear them chatting away.  There was no problem with that except that sometimes each bid or play took a long time.   But teaching bridge really isn’t a timed event and thankfully, Kathie was very patient.

Afterwards we discussed the hands and everyone had a pretty good time.   One point came up with Kathie and it was just a little hard to explain at the time so I will try now.  On one hand Kathie held the AQx and against a suit contract led a small one.  This was not meant to be deceptive, it was just what she fancied.  On another hand she lead small from Axxx.  This did actually put declarer to a guess since she had Kx in dummy and Jx in her hand.  As a result if she though Kathie had the Queen she should duck in dummy and if she thought Kathie had the Ace she should rise with the King in dummy.  Claire had no problem playing the King.  I however, might well have played low.

So now I am trying to explain to Kathie why it is generally not a good idea to underlead an ace in a suit contract.  I suppose the best reason is that it often costs a trick.  Here is an example where it is best not to lead the suit at all.  It is called an Elvis Coup.  I will explain why in a moment.

 

You have: Axxx                                         Partner has: QJxx

                                       Declarer has: Kx

If your partner eventually is on lead and leads the Q then declarer has no chance to make a trick in this suit.  But if you lead a small one declarer will make the King in her hand.  If you lead the Ace then you set up declarer’s King.    It is called an Elvis Coup because after you play your Ace,  “the King Lives”.  If you don’t get the reference you are a lot younger than me.

Leading away from other honors can cost a trick to, just not as often.  When you underlead the ace the only card that partner can have that will help you is the King.  When you underlead a King, then if partner has either the ace or the queen you are in good shape.

There are times when it is right to lead the Ace.  I like to lead an Ace in a slam contact unless there is a reason against it.  True, it might help declarer but I just don’t want my Ace to vanish as declarer discards that suit only to discover that partner has a trump trick or something.  In notrump it is a great lead.  But it just isn’t all that game in lower level suit contracts.

What about underleading an Ace-Queen as Kathie did?  That is even more likely to be costly (unless partner is nice enough to have the King).

First if declarer has the king you are probably sacrificing a trick and but even when declarer has the jack and dummy has the king you may be giving declarer a present.  Look at this position.

 

	Dummy
You	K54	Partner
AQ7		10982
	Declarer
	J63

 

If you don’t lead the suit declarer can only make one trick (the king in dummy).  But suppose you lead the 7.  Declarer all unknowingly will duck it, expecting your partner to have the ace.  Partner will contribute the 10 and declarer will play the Jack.  Now declarer can lead towards dummy’s King and make a second trick.

So there you have it, my best explanation about why you shouldn’t underlead an ace very often and underleading the Ace-Queen is a no-no.