Perhaps with no one of these combinations can you so often gain
tricks as by the correct play of ace queen jack.
These cards may be held in four different ways.
+------------------+-------------------+
| _In One Hand._ | _In the Other._ |
+------------------+-------------------+
| A Q J | x x x |
| A Q x | J x x |
| A J x | Q x x |
| A x x | Q J x |
+------------------+-------------------+
With this combination either in a trump or in a “no-trump” hand
endeavour to catch the adversary’s king by leading the highest card
from your weak hand toward the ace; if the king is not played second
in hand you can lose nothing by taking the finesse; for when it is
guarded in the fourth hand the king will win no matter how the cards
are played. The advantage of leading the high card is that, if you
retain the lead, you can again lead from the weak hand.
Better results will, of course, be obtained if you hold ace queen
jack ten, or even ace queen jack nine in the two hands; otherwise the
adversary, by covering the honour led, may eventually establish a ten
or nine against you.
If you hold ace, queen, and two or three small cards in one hand and
jack and small cards in the other, the best play of the combination
is to lead a low card up to the ace queen; if the finesse is
successful, the lead of the ace may capture a once-guarded king
without establishing a ten or nine for the adversaries. But if pitted
against weak players, on account of their well-known dislike of
sacrificing a high card, the lead of the jack toward the ace queen is
advisable.
The number of cards in the suit will often influence you in taking or
not taking the finesse. With eight cards or fewer in the two hands,
the finesse is practically obligatory. With nine cards in the two
hands, the finesse should usually be taken. With ten cards in the two
hands, it is largely a matter of luck. With ace queen and jack in one
hand and small cards in the other there is a slight percentage in
favour of the finesse. Otherwise try to gain information by leading
the highest card toward the ace, and if it is not covered, play the
ace on the chance of finding the king alone.
If you do not hold the jack it is a losing play to lead a queen
toward the ace. This is a common mistake and should be carefully
avoided.
With ace, queen, ten and nine in the two hands, it cannot be
considered altogether bad play to lead the queen toward the ace; but
if this is done it may be necessary to take a finesse on the second
round. The adversaries’ discards, however, will often show you how
this combination should be played.