ACBL41 – Decl/Def: Cover an Honor               Ward Trumbull                                                                    

                                                                                                                   Jun 25, 2012

                                                                                                                   Page 1 of 5

Bridge Axiom

 

      “Cover an Honor with an Honor”

 

Purpose

 

      Defender - Cover to possibly promote a lower honor or spot card

                         in either defender’s hand.  

      Declarer - Cover also to possibly promote but also sometimes to have

                       a preferable defender on lead.

 

Applicable

 

      This axiom applies to all four players, but for each there are differing situations – explained below.

 

Situation

 

      One of the hands (dummy, declarer, defender) leads an honor

(10 thru queen).  The next player (2nd) has a higher honor (J,Q,K) in that suit.  The third hand (3rd) may or may not have a higher honor.

        

         a. If third is dummy, a higher honor can be seen.

         b. If third is not dummy, declarer or the other defender honors are

             unknown.

 

Should the second player, cover the lead honor?  That is, should the higher honor be played?  Hopefully, the explanations below will clarify this dilemma.  

 

Questions                                         Answers

   

      1. Do you always cover?                    No!

      2. Does vulnerability matter?              Not really.

      3. How about trump suits?                 Yes – in certain situations.

                                                          No – in others.

             ACBL41 – Decl/Def: Cover an Honor               Jun 25, 2012

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Left Hand Opponent (LHO) of Declarer

----------------------------------------------------

 

      LHO Rule 1:  If LHO has the immediately higher honor (K over Q,

                           Q over J or J over 10), LHO should/must cover the honor.

 

      Decl Leads      LHO Holds      Dummy Holds    Action

      ---------------      ---------------      -------------------    ------------------------

           queen           K x x                 A x x               cover Q with K

           jack              Q x x                 A x x, K x x     cover  J with Q

                                                        A K x

           ten                J x x                 any A, K or      cover 10 with J   

                                                        Q hand

 

      LHO Rule 1: Exception

 

                    If LHO has more cards in the suit than the dummy,

                    maybe LHO shouldn’t cover.

 

                    a. Trump suit?                      No in most all cases

                    b. Suit contract side suit?     Yes if dummy 4+ trumps

                                                                 No if dummy has few

                                                                 trumps

                    c. Notrump contract?            No – may get it later

 

      LHO Rule 2:  If LHO’s honor is not the immediately higher

                            honor (K over J or 10, Q over 10), LHO should

                            not cover unless dummy has the missing

                            honor(s).  Because if dummy doesn’t, then

                            maybe partner (RHO) does.

 

 

 

 

 

              ACBL41 – Decl/Def: Cover an Honor                Jun 25, 2012

                                                                                                                      Page 3 of 5

 

Left Hand Opponent (LHO) of Declarer

----------------------------------------------------

 

      LHO Rule 2 (continued)

 

      Decl Leads      LHO Holds      Dummy Holds       Action

      ---------------      ---------------      -------------------      ------------------------

           jack              K x x               A x x                    don’t cover     Q?

           ten               Q x x               A x x or K x x       don’t cover     J?

                               K x x               A x x or A Q x       don’t cover     J?

 

           jack              K x x               Q x x or A Q x      cover

           ten               Q x x               A J x or K J x       cover  

 

Dummy

----------

 

      Does RHO have an honor higher than dummy’s honor?

 

      Dummy Rule 1:  If declarer also has a higher honor, don’t cover with

                                 dummy’s honor.  Third hand high (RHO) will probably

                                 play a higher honor anyways.

 

      LHO Leads    Dummy Holds    Declarer Holds    Action

      ---------------    -------------------    --------------------    -------------------

           jack            Q x x                  K x x                  don’t cover     

 

           a. RHO may play the ace anyway.

           b. If LHO lead jack from A J x, either he/she is still learning

               the game or is a crafty Life Master in Bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

              ACBL41 – Decl/Def: Cover an Honor                Jun 25, 2012

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Dummy (continued)

----------

 

      Dummy Rule 2:  If dummy has a higher honor but declarer

                                 doesn’t:

 

                                 a. Dummy doesn’t cover if RHO might be  

                                     short in that suit.  

                                 b. Dummy doesn’t cover to sever the defense

                                     communication in that suit.  That is a

                                     notrump ploy.  

                                 c. Dummy covers to get RHO on lead.

 

Right Hand Opponent (RHO) of Declarer

------------------------------------------------------

 

      RHO Rule 1:  If RHO has the immediately higher honor,

                            he/she covers the last honor in dummy’s top

                            sequence in that suit.

 

                            Explanation by Example - RHO has the king

 

                                  Dummy has Q x x      - cover the queen

                                  Dummy has Q J x x   - don’t cover the queen

                                                                       but cover the jack

                                  Dummy has Q J 10 x - don’t cover the queen

                                                                       or jack but cover the

                                                                       10

 

      RHO Rule 2:  If RHO doesn’t have the immediately higher

                            card, it’s a guess.  I would cover a jack or

                            queen but not a ten.  

 

 

 

              ACBL41 – Decl/Def: Cover an Honor                Jun 25, 2012

                                                                                                                      Page 5 of 5

 

Declarer

-----------

 

      Does LHO have a higher honor than declarer’s honor?

 

      Declarer Rule 1:  If dummy also has a higher honor, don’t

                                  cover.  Third hand high (LHO) will probably

                                  play a higher honor anyways.

 

      RHO Leads    Declarer Holds    Dummy Holds    Action

      ---------------    ---------------------    -------------------    ------------------

           jack            Q x x                     K x x                don’t cover     

 

           a. LHO may play the ace anyway,

           b. If RHO lead jack from A J x, either he/she is still learning

               the game or is a crafty Life Master in Bridge.

 

      Declarer Rule 2:  If declarer has a higher honor but dummy

                                  doesn’t:

 

                                  a. Declarer doesn’t cover if LHO might be  

                                      short in that suit.  

                                  b. Declarer doesn’t cover to sever the

                                      defense communication in that suit.  That

                                      is a notrump ploy.  

                                  c. Declarer covers to get LHO on lead.

 

Finally Note

----------------

 

      When in doubt, cover; and then reread this handout.