ACE, KING, JACK COMBINATION

This combination can be held in four different ways:

In One Hand. In the Other.
A K Jx x x
A K xJ x x
A J xK x x
K J xA x x

With the first arrangement of this combination the lead should come from the weak hand and the jack should be played. In the second the jack may be led from the weak hand toward the ace king; although unless you also hold the ten, little can be gained by this play, for if the adversary covers the jack with the queen, as he should, the ten will be established against you. In the two remaining cases a low card should be led up to the jack.

With each of these combinations, unless you hold nine cards or more in the combined hands, the finesse should be taken.

With ace jack in one hand and the king in the other, or with king jack in one hand and ace in the other, unless you also hold the ten of the suit, do not lead the jack toward the ace; for if the adversary covers the jack with the queen, the ten is established against you.

If you hold nine cards in the two hands it is not sound play to finesse; with but four cards against you the queen will probably fall in two rounds of the suit.