One of the major faults is in cashing an ‘unsupported’ Ace at trick 1.
What is meant by an unsupported Ace?
A J 7 6
A 10 5
A Q 9 2
are all ‘unsupported’
However, with
A K 7 5 2 the Ace is supported by the King (the next lower honour after the Ace).
Why do I suggest that you do not lead an unsupported Ace?
The stronger are the 2 opposition hands, the more important it is to not give Declarer extra tricks. If you hold the Ace, but not the King, and if the opposition are very strong in points, there is less chance of your Partner holding the King, which they must generally hold for the Ace to be a good lead.
Against a contract of 4♠ freely bid – i.e.
| N |
E |
S |
W |
|
if you hold - |
| 1♠ |
p |
2♣ |
p |
|
♠ 9 8 7 |
| 2♦ |
p |
4♠ |
p |
|
♥ A 8 2 |
| p |
p |
|
|
|
♦ J 10 9 8 |
| |
|
|
|
|
♣ K 7 2 |
| you must discount a lead of a heart (unsupported), or a club (dummy’s suit), or a diamond (Declarer’s 2nd. suit), so the obvious choice must be a trump, the 9 for the top of a sequence. Also, Declarer might need to ruff diamonds, and a trump lead draws 2 of Declarer’s trumps. |
With a slightly different hand -
♠ 9 8 7
♥ A 8
♠ J 10 9 8
♣ K 7 4 2
then, this is an exception to leading an unsupported Ace. Lead the Ace at trick 1, and play a second heart at trick 2, There is a good chance that Partner may have an early trump trick, and be able to give you a ruff, or that Declarer doesn’t draw trumps, and gives Partner the lead, or that Partner has the King of hearts. Slight difference, but significant. Also, you have three low trumps,
Certainly with only one trump -
♠ 9
♥ A 8
♦ J 10 9 8 2
♣ K 7 4 3 2
I would be inclined to lead the Jack of diamonds and hope to give Partner a ruff. All very minor differences, but significant nevertheless.
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