Spades Strategy: Finessing with AQT

The next tenace is the AQT, which plays very similarly to the AJT tenace.

Whenever the suit is led, we cover whatever East has played with the lowest of either the A, Q, or T.

If East has both the K and J, we win 2 extra tricks so long as we let any other player lead the suit.

If East has just one of the missing K or J, we should still be able to win one extra trick.

We cover East with the lowest honor we have, and one of three things could happen:

We win the trick and we likely have three tricks in the suit so long as we finesse East a second time.

The other thing that could happen is that West can only win the trick with the K.

At which point, we will have the two highest cards left in the suit.

Lastly, West could win the trick with the J - the trickiest situation.

On the second lead of hearts, we have a decision to make.

For the bold, an attempt to finesse East for the missing K can be made.

But there is no shame in winning the Ace instead on the second lead for the risk averse.

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