Lesson 2S Main

Second Hand Play

by Richard Pavlicek

This lesson pertains to defensive play by the defender who plays second to a trick (excluding the first trick, to which the defenders always play first and third). In other words, the lead is made by declarer — either from his own hand or the dummy — and the next player is a defender.

Second Hand Low

The general rule as second hand is not to attempt to win the trick. The purpose is to allow your partner (fourth hand) to have that opportunity after declarer has played from both hands. Simply stated:

As second hand, play your lowest card.

1. NT K 10 4
Table
Q 8 3 A J 6

South leads 9 7 5 2

When South leads the two, West should play the three. After declarer plays from dummy, East will have the opportunity to win the trick as cheaply as possible.

2. NT Q 7 4
Table
A J 3 9 8 5

South leads K 10 6 2

When South leads the two, West should play the three. If dummy wins the queen, West will get two tricks later with the A-J.

3. NT K 3 2
Table
J 8 5 A 9 4

North leads Q 10 7 6

When North leads the two, East should play the four. East would like to save his ace to capture North’s king.

Lesson 2S Main Top Second Hand Play

Covering an Honor

The principle of “second hand low” has several exceptions. One of the most important occurs when declarer leads an honor.

If declarer leads an unsupported honor, cover it if you can by playing your highest card.

4. NT J 3 2
Table
10 7 6 K 5 4

North leads A Q 9 8

If North leads the jack, East should cover with the king. South can win the ace, but West’s 10 will eventually take a trick. Note that if North instead led the two (or three), East would simply play low.

5. NT A K J 3
Table
Q 9 7 6 8 5 4

South leads 10 2

If South leads the 10, West should cover with the queen. This holds declarer to three tricks; but if West failed to cover, declarer would let the 10 ride and then finesse the jack to win four tricks.

Do not cover a supported honor unless you have two cards higher than the honor led.

6. NT J 10 2
Table
K 5 4 Q 9 7

North leads A 8 6 3

If North leads the jack (or 10), East should play low because the jack is supported. West will win the king, then East will get a second trick with his Q-9 behind North’s 10. Note that a trick would be lost if East covered the jack with his queen.

Supported?

An honor accompanied by a touching card is “supported.”
An honor without a touching card is unsupported.

7. NT A 3 2
Table
K 5 4 10 7 6

South leads Q J 9 8

If South leads the queen, West should play the four. This case is difficult because West cannot see South’s hand. West must assume South has the jack by the logic of the play — hence the queen is supported.

8. NT 10 9 2
Table
A 8 3 K J 4

North leads Q 7 6 5

North leads the 10. Even though the 10 is supported, East should cover (with the king) because he has two higher cards. If East played any other card, declarer could hold his loss to two tricks in the suit.

Lesson 2S Main Top Second Hand Play

Splitting Honors

Another reason for not playing second hand low occurs when your holding is very strong:

Holding three honors, at least two of which are touching, you should usually split them. Play the card you would lead.

9. NT 4 3 2
Table
8 6 5 K J 10 7

North leads A Q 9

When North leads the two, East should split his honors by playing the jack, else South might finesse the nine.

10. NT 4 3 2
Table
10 7 K Q 6 5

North leads A J 9 8

In this case East has only two honors, so he should not split. Exception: If one more trick will set the contract, play the king.

Nines, Too!

For the purposes of this lesson, a nine should be treated as an honor.

Lesson 2S Main Top Second Hand Play