Exercise 4W93 Main

I’ve Got You Covered!

by Richard Pavlicek

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 on its technical merit in the suit shown, assuming partner has at least two cards.
There is no urgency for you or partner to obtain the lead.

1. 3 NT J 10 2
North leads Table K 9 8
What is your play?

2. 3 NT 10 9 7
North leads Table A J 6
What is your play?

3. 3 NT 9 5
North leads Table J 4 2
What is your play?

4. 3 NT J 10 7
North leads Table A Q 5
What is your play?

Quit
Top I’ve Got You Covered!

5. 3 NT K 10 7 5
North leads Table A J 3
What is your play?

6. 3 NT J 10 8 7
North leads Table Q 2
What is your play?

7. 3 NT 9 8 6
North leads Table Q 10 3
What is your play?

8. 3 NT J 4
North leads Table A 7 3
What is your play?

Quit
Top I’ve Got You Covered!

9. 3 NT 8 2
North leads Table K 7 3
What is your play?

10. 3 NT 9 8 6
North leads Table K Q 3
What is your play?

11. 3 NT A J 9 2
North leads Table Q 6
What is your play?

12. 3 NT 10 9 6
North leads Table K J 3
What is your play?

Quit
Explanations and Study
Top I’ve Got You Covered!

The underlined card is led from dummy at trick two in 3 NT, and you, East, are next to play.

1. 3 NT J 10 2
Table
Q 3 K 9 8

North leads A 7 6 5 4

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.

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

North leads Q 5 4 3

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.

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

North leads A Q 10 7

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.

4. 3 NT J 10 7
Table
9 4 2 A Q 5

North leads K 8 6 3

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.

Study 4W93 Main Top I’ve Got You Covered!

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

North leads Q 9 8 6

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.

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

North leads A 6 5 4

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.

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

North leads A J 7 5

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.

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

North leads K 10 8 2

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.

Study 4W93 Main Top I’ve Got You Covered!

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

North leads A 10 9 4

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.

10. 3 NT 9 8 6
Table
10 5 K Q 3

North leads A J 7 4 2

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.

11. 3 NT A J 9 2
Table
7 5 3 Q 6

North leads K 10 8 4

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.

12. 3 NT 10 9 6
Table
8 5 2 K J 3

North leads A Q 7 4

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.

Study 4W93 Main Top I’ve Got You Covered!