Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Every extension of knowledge arises from making the conscious the unconscious.”

This week, we are conscientiously studying “cover an honor with an honor … or not.” We have seen that usually the defender should cover the last of touching honors. However, there is an important extension to be added: “but only when it might gain a trick.”

For example, dummy (North) has the Q-J-8- 7 of clubs and the next player (East) holds K-5-4-2. Declarer runs the club queen (everyone follows), then calls for the club jack. It is the last of the touching honors, but it cannot gain East to cover with the king, because his club spots are so low; and it could cost a trick if South started with, say, A-9-3.

In today’s deal, what is declarer’s best line in six spades after West leads the club queen, and how should East defend?

North was right to respond three spades, a game-invitational limit raise. Although he had only nine high-card points, he had two aces, five trumps and a potential ruffing value in his doubleton.

The mirror distribution of the North-South hands seems to leave two unavoidable losers: one spade and one club. But South can set a trap for East by winning the first trick with his club ace, crossing to the board in a red suit, and leading the spade jack. If East covers the last of touching honors (the only honor), there is a loud crash as the queen, ace and king all appear on the same trick. But East should realize that since his partner has at most one spade, it cannot gain to cover.