Don’t move card! I’ve got you covered! Do you know when to cover an honor with an honor? Test yourself on these 12 problems.The underlined card is led from dummy at trick two in 3 NT, and you, East, are next to play.Consider your play by its technical merit in the single suit shown, assuming partner hasat least two cards, and there is no urgency for either of you to obtain the lead.
What is your play?
The underlined card is led from dummy at trick two in 3 NT, and you, East, are next to play.
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.
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.
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.
Cover with the ace. Any other play would allow declarer to establish the suit with one loser. In general, you should play your highest when you can cover with more than one card.
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.
Do not cover. In this situation 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cover with the king. Here it would suffice to play the jack, but covering high is the stronger play. Not only does it conceal the layout better, but if South held Q-7-4-2, only the king would work.
© 2000 Richard Pavlicek