Bridge 08/06/2011

It IS generally wrong to cover an honour when you have length but no strength in the suit played.

Declarer ducked the king of clubs lead but had to win when West continued with the jack to show his sequence. East should realise the significance of this: declarer has no significant club pips and would not win the second round if he could duck again. The auction indicates that South had at most three cards in each major, so he has at least five diamonds. Declarer crossed to the king of spades to lead the jack of diamonds – and East covered without thinking. Declarer now had nine winners. When he ran diamonds West was forced to make five discards. To keep her guards in the majors she had to throw two clubs, so declarer could afford to concede a heart, making an overtrick.

The deal, from a duplicate pairs, where overtricks are vital, was a near top for North-South. Note the difference if East does not cover. Declarer runs the jack, then the nine, then plays low to the ten, but he makes only four diamond tricks. That allows West to keep an extra club, and declare makes only nine tricks.

It is not always wrong to cover when you have five cards in the suit led – but you can promote nothing for partner. Cover only when you have good intermediates that will become winners.