In cases where you do not cover, you should usually cover the second time if an equivalent honor is led. Sometimes your holding is strong enough to play an honor even when dummy or declarer leads a low card. This may be necessary to prevent declarer from winning a trick by finessing an intermediate card. When splitting honors, play the card you would lead. You should generally play low and hope to use your honors to better advantage later.
Exceptions occur, though, depending on the contract and other factors.
This prevents South from finessing the nine. Note that if West played low, declarer could finesse the eight. All rights reserved.