In a previous Spades Strategy article, Away From the Ace, I showed that it is frequently a much better play to underlead the Ace of spades rather than to start with the Ace itself. Since that article appeared I have tried the tactic several times. When paired with a random partner, even one who is supposed to be experienced, I did not always achieve optimum results. Let us examine one of the casualties and then I will introduce a small refinement that might help.

The following 5-card position is the ending of a 12-bid. Both North/South and East/West need two more tricks to make their respective bids. North and South have no problems at all. Even better -- if they can win four of the remaining five, they have a set. Someone leads a diamond and South trumps with the 2.

North K74 8 6 -- West Q98 J 7 -- East J6 Q Q4 -- South A102 4 -- J

With all cards in view we can see there is only one way to guarantee the set. South must lead a low spade, away from the Ace, to North's K. A spade return then allows South to win and push out the J. Whether West trumps or not, North must win the 7 for the setting trick. Note that this play succeeds even if we interchange the K and Q.

So what's the problem? The typical North, confronted with South's lead of the 10, will duck this trick to preserve his K for the bid-fulfilling trick. (The Count Card Principle, if used, would indicate the duck is quite wrong but very few players have adopted this advanced technique.) So North responds to his partner's 10 with the 4 . East wins the J and cashes a heart to make his side's bid handily.

North's error is not uncommon, even from players who classify themselves as 'strong.' This website even showcased a deal in the feature You Be the Judge ( #8a, post mortem)that was based on this very same misjudgment.

South must help his partner as much as possible. Using Standard Leads, the lead of a low card suggests strength in that suit. South must trump the diamond with his 10, and follow up by leading the deuce. There are no guarantees, but the appearance of the 2 just might jolt North into allowing the possibility that his partner has either the Ace or Queen of spades. In either case the K must be played.

The underlead of the Ace of Spades is generally a no-lose play that often brings huge gains. It is always so depressing when the advantage of such cleverness is lost due to one's partner using cleverness of his own. Trumping with a middle spade in order to lead a small one might be all the encouragement he needs.

Regards,
Popsicle