Rule of 11 : Bridge Online
The rule of 11 is a technique you can use for calculating the location of unseen cards in the suit that has been led. It only works in situations where a player has led '4th highest'. (Leads are covered in other lessons)
You start with 11 and then subtract the value of the card led. The result indicates the number of cards higher than the one led in:
- the partner of leader's hand
- plus dummy
- plus declarer's hand.
Take 11 (it's the rule of 11, after all!), subtract 7 (the value of the card led) and the difference is 4. That means there are four cards higher than the 7 in your hand, dummy and declarer's hand.
| ♠ | ||
| ♥ | ||
| ♦ 7 | ||
| ♣ | ||
| ♠ | ♠ J763 | |
| ♥ | ♥ K96 | |
| ♦ | ♦ K43 | |
| ♣ | ♣ QJ6 | |
| ♠ 984 | ||
| ♥ A542 | ||
| ♦ AJ85 | ||
| ♣ T2 |
| West | North | East | South | |
| 1♣ | P | 1♠ | P | |
| 2NT | P | 3NT | P | |
| P | P |
You can see three cards higher than the 7 in your hand and one card higher than the 7 in dummy. That means declarer has no cards higher than the 7. You can let partner's 7 hold the trick and keep your Ace to cover dummy's Q.
| ♠ T52 | ||
| ♥ 873 | ||
| ♦ QT97 | ||
| ♣ 985 | ||
| ♠ AKQ | ♠ J763 | |
| ♥ QJT | ♥ K96 | |
| ♦ 62 | ♦ K43 | |
| ♣ AK743 | ♣ QJ6 | |
| ♠ 984 | ||
| ♥ A542 | ||
| ♦ AJ85 | ||
| ♣ T2 |
Here's the full hand. Now study the hand yourself. You'll beat the contract if you think carefully about the rule of 11.
| ♠ | ||
| ♥ | ||
| ♦ 7 | ||
| ♣ | ||
| ♠ J763 | ♠ 984 | |
| ♥ K96 | ♥ A542 | |
| ♦ Q43 | ♦ AJ85 | |
| ♣ QJ6 | ♣ T2 | |
| ♠ | ||
| ♥ | ||
| ♦ | ||
| ♣ |
This rule can also be applied by declarer when deciding which card to play from dummy. Declarer knows that the 8 will win the trick - there is no need to waste the queen or the jack.