By Barbara Seagram
Defence against notrump
First hand is Eddie and Marty Bergen’s. They love this one
Rule of eleven
The contract is 3NT. Declarer is South.
West leads the seven of spades.
You have to MAKE declarer NOT play the king from dummy at trick one. Then let play proceed (having always checked bidding and lead after they have had a chance to try to do it right themselves).
East must play the two of spades at trick one (teach them rule of eleven). Important (to make the hand a real success) that you teach them first that declarer MUST attack hearts when they get the lead (or declarer ends up going down even though she has been GIVEN the contract by being allowed to win a trick with the king of spades.)
A follow up hand for declarer to use rule of eleven is:
They all want to use Stayman so first off, teach them to NOT use Stayman with 4-3-3-3 hands. The seven of spades led. They have to duck this to the nine of spades in their hand. Rule of eleven is all about winning a trick economically.