bridge
bridge
East-West vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
xJ
uQ 10 4 2
vA 10 9 6 5 3
w10 3
WEST EAST
x10 9 6 2 xK 8 3
u8 7 uJ 9 6 3
vJ v8 7 4 2
wA 9 6 5 4 2 wK J
SOUTH
xA Q 7 5 4
uA K 5
vK Q
wQ 8 7
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2NT Pass 3w Pass
3x Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Five of w
Three no trump was the popular contract on this deal from the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs after an auction such as the above. Looking at only your hand and dummy, the five of clubs is led, ducked in dummy and covered by the king. East returns the knave. Do you cover or duck?
Applying the Rule of 11, you have no problem. Playing fourth-highest leads, the Rule of 11 combined with fourth-best leads provides the answer. Deducting the spotcard led from 11 gives you six — the number of cards the other three players have that are higher than the card led. Now take the king-jack into account and declarer can place West with A 9 6 5 (x) (x) and, and the only hope is to find East with king-jack bare. Since any slight chance is better than none at all, duck the jack and, as the cards lie, nine tricks are in the bag!
2012 Tribune Media Services