#11 Neither Vulnerable
South West North East
1♣ 2♠ DBL Pass
4♥ AP
North (dummy)
♠ 7 4 2
♥ Q 9 5 2
♦ K 9 8
♣ K J 8
West East (you)
♠ K ♠ 9 8
♥ ♥ K 7 6 3
♦ ♦ A 10 7 6 3 2
♣ ♣ 7
South (declarer)
♠ A
♥
♦
♣
West leads the ♣K. South wins the ♣A, crosses to the ♣K and leads the ♥Q. What is East’s play?
As East, if the ♥Q is led from dummy at trick three, do not cover! Hearts are 4-4-4-1. You know that the 2nd heart must be won in South’s hand and declarer has no way to return to the dummy to repeat the heart finesse. If a diamond is led to the ♦K, you will win the ♦A. If declarer attempts to get to dummy with a club, then East will trump.
Rule: Do not cover an honor with an honor unless there is a trick to promote in either your hand or your partner’s hand.
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How Do You Defend? 2-11
