If you’re a defender, it may be correct to “cover an honor with an honor.” But cover when you have something to gain, not because somebody told you it’s an inviolable rule.

Today’s West led the nine of spades against four hearts, and when dummy played the queen, East hastened to cover an honor. South captured the king with his ace and cashed the A-K of trumps.

GOOD CLUB

When West discarded, South took the A-K of clubs and ruffed a club. The suit broke 3-3, so he got back to dummy with the jack of spades and threw his last spade on a good club as East ruffed. East’s diamond shift let West take the queen and ace, but South had the rest. Making four.

South succeeded because of a defensive error: East should refuse to cover the queen of spades. South can take the top trumps next, then set up the clubs with a ruff, but since he can’t get back to dummy, he loses a spade, two diamonds and a trump.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: ? A 5 2 ? A K 8 7 5 3 ? K 5 ? A 7. The dealer, at your right, opens one diamond. What do you say?

ANSWER: A simple overcall of one heart might be based on a hand with as many as 17 points, but this hand exceeds that limit, especially since the positional value of your king of diamonds is improved; it is worth as much as an ace. Double. If your partner bids, say, two clubs, you will bid two hearts to show a hand worth at least 18 points.