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Jack Denies, Ten Implies (Coded nines and tens)


"Jack Denies, Ten Implies" is a lead agreement whereby the lead of the jack always denies a higher honor, but the 10 "implies" at least one higher (non-touching) honor.

Examples:

  • JT84 - lead the jack, which denies a higher honor (i.e. the queen, king or ace).

  • JT974 - again, lead the jack.

  • KT94 - lead the 10 from all interior sequences headed by an honor.

  • KJT65 - lead the 10. Leading the jack would deny the king.

  • QT987 - lead the 10.

"Jack Denies" is sometimes confused with 0 or 2 higher leads. The two lead conventions are very similar, except that "Jack Denies" does NOT employ the lead of a 9 to suggest two higher honor cards. From sequences like QT987, the 10 is the correct opening lead when playing "Jack Denies", but the 9 would be the correct lead if playing 0 or 2 higher leads.