Blum on Bridge It's elementary, my dear Watson
	For beginners and advanced beginners this article is for you, but before proceeding let me tell you something. We so called advanced students are constantly forgetting our early lessons, so maybe we should tag along. Today's subject doesn't come from me, but from my very favorite book, Louis Watson's "The Play of the Hand at Bridge." This classic was originally published in 1934 shortly before his untimely death at the tender age of 33. Chapter one is headed, The Power of Honors. Better stay with us you experts! In the very first paragraph Watson states, "The ace is the highest card in the suit, and the king beats the queen, and the queen is better than the jack, and so on." This is the most important statement regarding the play of the cards at bridge. Though that sentence simply states the ranking of cards, it's quite possible that you may never have truly learned the power of these cards when properly handled. Almost everyone knows that playing an honor results in every lower card going up one spot in rank. We must therefore conclude that if an honor can capture a lower second honor all lower cards go up two spots in rank. Leading an ace is like trying to stab the opponent while blindfolded. Unless it is a singleton, no defender will accommodate you by throwing an honor under yours. Have you ever heard the expression, "Aces are meant to take kings & queens?" It follows then that whenever you win or try to win a trick try to gain as many positions in rank for your lower cards. The best way to accomplish this is to play those high cards after one or preferably both opponents have played. Let me show you a common set of circumstances where I see errors week after week among the best players at our local clubs. On defense you hold AJ5. Lho, the dummy, has K732. Rho, declarer, leads the 6. Which card do you play? If you play the ace, your jack only moves up only one position in rank and whoever has the queen will hold the second highest card. Thus, you play low allowing the king to win. When dummy plays toward declarer's original holding of Q95 your ace will capture the queen and move your jack up two positions. It is harder to see, but even without the jack it is better to play low so you can eventually capture an honor with your ace. I want to digress a moment. The above easy to see play solidifies the axiom, "second hand low." However, the words, "unless there is good reason to play high" should be added. For example against no-trump your partner leads his long suit. Declarer wins the trick and eventually plays a low card from dummy if it's obvious the opponents have no stoppers in partner's suit, it would be a good reason to play the ace when declarer leads low from dummy. Then you can immediately play through declarer to set the contract. Suppose you hold A1032 and lho, the dummy has KJ86 when declarer leads the 5 it is best to play low even if he has Q95.Because declarer cannot see all four hands he will probably play the jack instead of finessing the 8 and lead back to his queen. You will win the queen (an honor) with your ace. You will hope that eventually declarer plays to dummy's king hoping the suit breaks 3-3. In a heart contract you hold A32 of spades. Dummy (lho) holds KQJ95. Your partner has 10864. Declarer (rho) leads the 7, an obvious singleton. In every case, unless declarer has no losers to pitch on the dummy's honors, do not play the ace. This may be the most difficult time to keep in mind that "aces are meant to take kings and queens." If you play the ace all of dummy's spades set-up. If you play low and let dummy win the trick with the jack, you prevent him from establishing all but his KQ of spades. He must lead an honor back that you will win when declarer discards a loser, which promotes partner's 10 two positions in rank. A common sequence is a holding of QJ small, say QJ7. Declarer again is on your right and dummy to your left. In all of the follow instances declarer leads a low card toward dummy, say the 4 spot. (a) dummy A103, (b) dummy A832, (c) dummy AK10. Against (a) play the jack to be certain of winning one trick, as it is possible declarer may finesse the 10. Against (b) play low because though it is possible declarer holds K1094, it is more likely partner holds either the king or jack. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if declarer held 109654 and partner had a stiff king? Yech! Please smoothly play low against (c). Should you play an honor to force the king, most assuredly declarer will return to his hand and finesse the 10.