Book a Course
View all the latest courses going on at the bridge club and book yours now...
-
Home
-
Andrew
-
Articles
Andrew Robson Articles.
-
About
Read about Andrew Robson
-
Beginner Corner
Andrew offers hints and tips for those new to the game
-
Tips for Intermediates
Andrew's top tip for intermediates and improvers.
-
For the more experienced
A selection of deals for the more experienced
-
Andrew finds the Queen
Andrew receives his OBE at Buckingham Palace from her majesty the Queen
-
Andrew's life in Bridge
Some select deals, which i have played
-
Bridge Quiz
Test your bidding knowledge
-
If you remember_just one_thing
In this series Andrew, features one improtant point per Article. Bit by bit the reader will improve their game.
-
Articles
-
Store
-
BridgeCast
-
Everything A.R.
-
Courses
-
Results
-
All Sessions
- About the Staff
-
Take a look inside
Take a 360 degree tour of the inside of ARBC
-
Where to stay near the club
A list of places to stay near to our club
-
Book a table
Book a table for a duplicate
-
DVDs
-
About other clubs
See clubs that teach the Andrew Robson way
-
AR Bridge Chelsea
Links to Andrew Robson Bridge in Chelsea
-
Dorset Bridge
Links to Dorset Bridge, for Andrew Robson Lessons
-
Shop
Andrew:
Always?
I do not much like the ditty,
“Never underlead an ace”.
Don’t get me wrong - leading away from an ace is dangerous at the best of times, and to be avoided at all costs at Trick One to a trump contract. But it does not apply in notrumps, where leading from a five-card suit headed by the ace may cost a cheap trick, but you hope to get a return for your investment in the form of length winners. And the ditty does not apply to a trump contract once dummy is tabled.
Take this deal.
|
South Deals None Vul |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♠ | |||
| Dbl1 | 4 ♠ | Pass2 | Pass |
| Pass |
|
What happened
West led ♣ A against the 4 ♠ game, so far so good (“if you have an ace-king, you do not have a lead problem”). It was at Trick Two that he erred. With dummy now void of clubs, it was clear to switch suits. But to what?
With the words “never underlead an ace” ringing in his ear, West switched to ♥ 6. No good - East won ♥ A, and returned ♦ 4 to ♦ Q and ♦ A, but declarer could win West’s return of ♦ 3 (to East’s ♦ J) with ♦ K, draw trumps, then cash hearts, discarding his diamond loser. 10 tricks and game made.
What should have happened
After cashing ♣ A, West surveys dummy. The three small cards in diamonds, coupled with the strength in hearts, make a diamond switch look very attractive in spite of holding ♦ A. ♦ 3 goes to ♦ J and ♦ Q. Declarer draws trumps, then plays on hearts to force out ♥ A and set up his winners. East grabs ♥ A and leads ♦ 5 through declarer’s ♦ K8. West beats (say) ♦ K with ♦ A and cashes the promoted ♦ 10. Down one.
If you remember one thing...
Remember that the “never underlead an ace” ditty only applies before dummy is tabled.
