Advanced Quiz 4W93 by Richard Pavlicek
Advanced Quiz 4W93 by Richard Pavlicek
Don’t move card! I’ve got you covered!
| J 10 2 | ||
![[W - E]](u.gif) | K 9 8 | |
What is your play?
Wrong!
Sorry!
| 10 9 7 | ||
| A J 6 | |
What is your play?
No way!
Not right!
| 9 5 | ||
| J 4 2 | |
What is your play?
Ouch!
Not best!
| J 10 7 | ||
| A Q 5 | |
What is your play?
Wrong!
Sorry!
| K 10 7 5 | ||
| A J 3 | |
What is your play?
No way!
Not right!
| J 10 8 7 | ||
| Q 2 | |
What is your play?
Ouch!
Not best!
| 9 8 6 | ||
| Q 10 3 | |
What is your play?
Wrong!
Sorry!
| J 4 | ||
| A 7 3 | |
What is your play?
No way!
Not right!
| 8 2 | ||
| K 7 3 | |
What is your play?
Ouch!
Not best!
| 9 8 6 | ||
| K Q 3 | |
What is your play?
Wrong!
Sorry!
| A J 9 2 | ||
| Q 6 | |
What is your play?
No way!
Not right!
| 10 9 6 | ||
| K J 3 | |
What is your play?
Ouch!
Not best!
| J 10 2 | ||
| Q 3 | | K 9 8 |
| A 7 6 5 4 |
Right! Do not cover. If you played the king, your side will get only one trick in the layout shown, and there is no situation where covering is necessary.
| 10 9 7 | ||
| K 8 2 | | A J 6 |
| Q 5 4 3 |
Excellent! Cover with the ace. If you played the jack (or ducked), your side would get only two tricks. Winning the ace leaves declarer with three losers assuming, of course, you don’t lead the suit for him.
| 9 5 | ||
| K 8 6 3 | | J 4 2 |
| A Q 10 7 |
Correct! Cover with the jack. Many players overlook the power of a nine and carelessly play low allowing declarer to establish three tricks. Covering holds him to two tricks.
| J 10 7 | ||
| 9 4 2 | | A Q 5 |
| K 8 6 3 |
Super! Cover with the ace. Any other play would allow declarer to establish the suit with one loser. In general, you should play your highest card when you cover.
| K 10 7 5 | ||
| 4 2 | | A J 3 |
| Q 9 8 6 |
Very good! Do not cover. Declarer’s unusual lead of the 10 is a “fishing” maneuver, hoping to bait you into covering. If you play low, he is likely to win the queen and finesse the other way.
| J 10 8 7 | ||
| K 9 3 | | Q 2 |
| A 6 5 4 |
Brilliant! Do not cover. In this layout declarer could not go wrong if you covered, but ducking leaves him a guess — he may lead the 10 next hoping your partner had K-9 doubleton.
| 9 8 6 | ||
| K 4 2 | | Q 10 3 |
| A J 7 5 |
Well done! Cover with the queen. Declarer can always hold you to one trick in this layout, but the queen is the strongest defense. An inexperienced declarer might think you have K-Q and play the jack next.
| J 4 | ||
| Q 9 6 5 | | A 7 3 |
| K 10 8 2 |
Right! Cover with the ace. Many players would duck on the misbelief they are “making declarer guess,” but covering is crucial in most layouts. Note that declarer could establish two tricks if you ducked.
| 8 2 | ||
| Q J 6 5 | | K 7 3 |
| A 10 9 4 |
Excellent! Cover with the king. Sometimes even an eight can be potent, as declarer could establish a trick if you ducked. The logic here is that your king is useless by itself so you may as well cover.
| 9 8 6 | ||
| 10 5 | | K Q 3 |
| A J 7 4 2 |
Correct! Do not cover. Declarer will almost surely let the nine ride (his correct percentage play). Note that if declarer held A-J-10, your play wouldn’t matter.
| A J 9 2 | ||
| 7 5 3 | | Q 6 |
| K 10 8 4 |
Super! Do not cover. Declarer is on another fishing trip, and you may be the catch. In these situations you have to plan ahead and play low without a flicker.
| 10 9 6 | ||
| 8 5 2 | | K J 3 |
| A Q 7 4 |
Very good! Cover with the king. In this layout it would suffice to play the jack, but covering high is the stronger play — e.g., if South held Q-7-4-2, only the king would work.
Copyright © 2008 Richard Pavlicek. All rights reserved.
3 NT by South