Play ten, or lowest of sequence.
Knave, ten, nine, &c.
Play nine, or lowest of sequence.
Queen, knave, and small; knave, ten, and small; ten, nine, and small.
Play as directed at pp. [82]-3.
Covering or passing second hand.
If an honour is led, and you have the ace, as a rule play the ace.
If an honour is led, and you hold an honour, not the ace, pass as a rule.
It was formerly the practice to cover an honour with an honour, if numerically weak. Calculation shows more is gained than lost, in the long run, by passing. But, if a strengthening card is led, late in a hand, it would often be right to cover. No positive rule can be laid down for the play of the second hand under such circumstances. When you have the fourchette it is almost always right to cover. Thus, if knave is led, and you hold queen, ten, &c., put on the queen.
If a ten is led, and you hold queen and one small one, play queen. The lead is probably from king, knave, ten, &c., and the queen may save your partner's ace. With queen and two small ones, or with other combinations not enumerated as those with which a high card should be played second hand, pass.