Spades Strategy: Finessing with AJT

We can finesse for more than just the K of a suit.

With a holding like AJT, we can finesse East for one of the missing K or Q.

On the first lead of the suit and if East plays low, we play from the JT combination:

Whenever West has no more than 1 of the missing honors, we can earn 2 tricks in the suit.

We lose the first lead of the suit to West whenever West has one of the missing K or Q.

On the second lead of the suit, we finesse East for the missing K♦️.

And now our A♦️ is good for a 2nd diamond trick.

To win 2 tricks when East has both of the K and Q...

If East follows low, we play low from the JT combination again.

And we win the first lead of diamonds. Our A♦️ will win another round of diamonds.

If East is cautious and splits his honors by playing high, we capture one with the A♦️.

Then force out the remaining honor with our newly promoted holding.

With the AKQJ♦️ out of the way, our T♦️ is good for a second diamond trick.

With this line of play and bids being equal, this finesse produces an extra trick 75% of the time.

The only time it doesn't succeed is if West begins with both the missing K and Q.

If we try to finesse East a second time for the missing honor, West wins the second lead.

And our A♦️ is in jeopardy of being trumped by an opponent or even partner on the third round.

There is also danger if partner is the type to lead low from a K.

If we take the finesse and West ends up having the Q when partner holds the K.

We may risk partner's K or our A when we relegate them to 2nd and 3rd round winners.

For the risk averse, there are lower risk but lower reward methods to play from this holding.

The most promising place to play this tenace is when East leads the suit.

If partner holds the K, we are not risking it becoming a third round winner - at least not before winning extra tricks.

Additionally, since partner is last to play, he can cover West's Q if it is played.

And our diamonds are only winners now.

If partner is the type to not lead low from a K (or East leads the suit), we can hope for East to have the two missing honors, a 25% chance at 2 tricks.

If West ends up winning the first diamond lead...

We can abort mission and minimize risk by cashing the A♦️ on the second lead of diamonds.

One last option to do this finesse is within the spades suit. The A♠️ won't be in jeopardy if it doesn't win the first round or two of spades.

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