The course

Chinese finesse or not

Step 4 of 5

A cover that gains you nothing

Ace opposite queen-jack. Now the honour you might run is genuinely supported, a cover does not embarrass you, and running it is still a mistake.

Count what you are playing for. The queen and the jack facing the ace are already two tricks whenever the suit is not vile. Running the queen cannot add one — and it can lose one, when East holds the king and you have led into him.

Take 3 tricks.

Dummy
Lead from either hand.
Declarer

Play a card from either hand. Play the line you would play — nothing here is scored, and you can start the suit again whenever you like.