North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
9 8
A J 5
A 7 4 3
K 8 7 6
WEST EAST
A 10 7 5 3 2 Q J 6
9 6 Q 10 7 4 2
Q 10 9 6
4 2 Q J 9 3
SOUTH
K 4
K 8 3
K J 8 5 2
A 10 5
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1 2 3 Pass
3NT Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Five of
Early in this deal, East is going to be faced with a discarding problem. If you were East, would you come up with the winning play and, if so, why?
North's three-spade cue-bid showed a limit raise or better in diamonds. South's conversion to three no trump is reasonable -- a nine-trick contract rated to be easier than playing in five of a minor.
West led the five of spades to East's jack and declarer's king. South led a diamond to the ace and returned a diamond, and you are in the hot seat. As East, what card would you discard?
Suppose you discard a low heart. Partner might play you for starting with J x in spades and the ace of clubs, and return a club in the hope that you would win and return a spade through declarer's queen. If, instead you play a low club, partner might play you for the king of hearts.
The solution is to discard the queen of spades! Won't that perhaps give declarer a second stopper in the suit? No way. Using the Rule of 11, partner knows that there are six cards higher than the five in the other three hands. Dummy has two, he has three and declarer has already played the sixth. Therefore, South can have no other card higher than the five and West will now know the suit will run.
This column is written by Tannah Hirsch and Omar Sharif. For information about Charles Goren's newsletter for bridge players, call (800) 788-1225 or write Goren Bridge Letter, P.O. Box 4410, Chicago, Ill. 60680.
& copy; 2006, Tribune Media Services
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.