Structure
neg.Card Combinations
Optimal Play for Various Combinations
Combinations with 6 cards:
| Holding | Goal | Play | Works When | Success % |
| AJ9 xxx |
2 Tricks | Lead toward the 9 and then finesse toward the J. | LHO has K10, Q10 or KQ10 | 37% |
| AKQ10 xx |
4 Tricks | Cash A and then lead towards the 10. | LHO has the J or RHO has stiff J | 50.48% |
| AK109x x |
4 Tricks | Lead toward the 10, covering if LHO plays an honor. Then cash from the top. | LHO has QJxx, QJ, Q9x, or J9x | 13.19% |
Combinations with 7 cards:
| Holding | Goal | Play | Works When | Success % |
| Jxx AKxx |
3 Tricks | Cash the A and then play low toward the J. | LHO has Q, 33 break, or RHO has stiff Q. | 69.22% |
| A1098 Jxx |
3 Tricks | Lead low toward the 10, if this finesse loses, repeat by leading the J. | LHO has KQ or the K and Q are split. | 76% |
| K10x Axxx |
3 Tricks | Lead low towards the 10 twice. | LHO has QJ or a 3-3 split. | 52.41% |
| Q1098x Ax |
1 loser | Play the Q. | 3-3 split with K onside, Kx onside, or Jx doubleton. | 58.07% |
| AJ108xx x |
1 loser | Lead low toward the 8. | 3-3 or 4-2 split with 9 onside and KQ split or onside. | 54.85% |
Combinations with 8 cards:
| Holding | Goal | Play | Works When | Success % |
| Axx KQ109x |
0 losers | Play low to the A. If LHO shows out, finesse RHO for the J. Otherwise, low back to K. | Always, unless LHO has the J with 4 or 5 cards. | 86.74% |
| AKJ10xx xx |
0 losers | Finesse twice for the Q. | LHO has the Q and the break is no worse than 4-1 | 48.04% |
| Jx AKxxxx |
5 Tricks | With 2 entries: Lead low towards the J. | Any 3-2, or Q onside with 4 cards or stiff. | 81.96% |
| JX AKxxxx |
5 Tricks | With only one entry: Duck the first round. | Any 3-2 or stiff Q. | 73.48% |
| J109x AKxx |
4 Tricks | Play the A, cross to board, finesse with the J. | RHO has Q or LHO has stiff Q. | 52.83% (50.87% for 0 losers) |
| A10xx QJxx |
4 Tricks | Lead low toward the 10, then lead the Q. | 3-2 with K onside or 4-1 with stiff K onside. | 36.74% |
| A1076 QJxx |
4 Tricks | Lead the Q, then the J. | 3-2 with K onside, or 4-1 with stiff 9 or 8 offside. | 39.56% |
| xx KQxxxx |
4 Tricks | With 1 Entry: Duck one round. | Any 3-2 split. | 67.83% |
| AJ98 K432 |
4 Tricks | Cash the K and lead toward the J. | LHO has: Qxx, QTxxx, Qxxx, Qx, or Txxx. | 41.52% |
| Kxxx AQ108 |
4 Tricks | Cash A, if 9 drops, get complete count to figure out if it's stiff 9 or J9xx. | Depends on opponents. | |
| KQJx xxxx |
1 loser | Lead towards the K three times. | All except 5-0 splits or Axxx offside. | 84.77% |
| AK109xx xx |
1 loser | Cash the A and then play low toward the 10. | All except 5-0 splits or QJxx offside. | 87.61% |
| Ax KQ1087x |
1 loser | Lead the 7, cover any higher card and duck any lower one. | Always. | 100% |
| Axxx KJ98 |
1 loser | Lead the K, then the 9. | Any 3-2 or 4-1 split. | 96.07% |
| J98 AK7xx |
1 loser | Play the A. If LHO shows out, double finesse RHO, otherwise lead low towards the J. | Any except LHO holding 5 cards. | 98.04% |
| Axx Q987x |
1 loser | (With known KJ behind the Q): Lead low towards the 9, covering the 10 if RHO plays it. Then lead the Q. | Exactly KJx behind Q. | 26% |
| xx AKQ10xx |
1 loser | Duck the first round. | Any except J9xxx offside. | 98.04% |
| Missing KQ | 1 loser | Always finesse twice. | KQ onside or split. | 76% |
| Kxxx AJ98 |
3 Tricks | Cash the A. If both opponents follow, lead the 8. | Always | 100% |
Combinations with 9 cards:
| Holding | Goal | Play | Works When | Success % |
| J109x AKxxx |
0 losers | Play the A, if both opponents follow, play the K. | Any 2-2, stiff Q, or Qxxx onside. | 57.92% |
| Missing KQ | 0 losers | Finesse twice. | KQ onside or split. | 76% |
| Missing J | 0 losers | If AKQ not all in one hand: Play high honor from side with 2 of AKQ. | Always | 100% |
| KQ98 Axxxx |
0 losers | Play the A, double finesse if J10xx onside. | All except 4-0 offside. | 95.22% |
| K10xx AQ8xx |
0 losers | Guess which side is 4-0. | All except 4-0 the other way. | 95.22% |
| K109x Q87xx |
1 loser | Low toward a high honor, then play for 2-2. | Any except AJx or AJxx onside, or A or AJx offside. | 64.12% |
| AQ109xx xxx |
1 loser | Cash the A and then lead low toward the Q. | Any except KJx or KJxx offside. | 82.78% |
| Jxx AK9xxx |
1 loser | Lead low toward the J. | Always | 100% |
| QJxxx K9xx |
1 loser | Lead low towards the Q. | Any except 4-0 offside, and then maybe can still make it on an endplay. | 95.22% |
| xxx QJ98xx |
2 losers | (No entries): Lead the 8. | 2-2 or a stiff high honor. | 65.58% |
| xxx QJ98xx |
2 losers | (With Entries): Lead low towards the Q twice. | Any except AK10 all offside. | 89% |