Playing at the ‘local-dupe,’ the North, South pairs bid to an aggressive four-spade contract. Defending at one table for East, West
were top St. Louis players Debbie King and Nancy Popkin. South did not make four spades but thought the contract could be made. Nancy, as defender, said it could be made but it was ‘complicated.’
Upon review, Nancy was right. An unlikely ♥ or ♣ lead always can defeat the contract. With the ♦ Jack lead, can you make the hand?
The bidding:
N
1c
2s
4s
E
p
p
p
S
1s
3s
p
W
p
p
p
Opening lead: ♠Q
Cover the East/West hands and see if you can make the contract.
NORTH
♠ A K 7 4
♥ J 10
♦ Q 8
♣ K 9 8 6 2
WEST
♠ 10 3
♥ A Q 9 8 4
♦ J 5
♣ Q 7 5 4
EAST
♠ 9 8 5
♥ K 7 6 3
♦ 10 9 7 4 2
♣ A
SOUTH
♠ Q J 6 2
♥ 5 2
♦ A K 6 3
♣ J 10 3
1. The ♦Jack is led to the Queen, 2, and 3.
2. Declarer plays the ♦ 8 to the 4, Ace, and 5.
3. Declarer plays the ♦ King, throwing the ♥10 from dummy, reducing ♥ losers to one.
4. This play is known as the ‘Scissors Coup.’ The play of the ♦ King ‘cuts’ the defenders communication.
5. Declarer must put off drawing trumps and attack ♣s. The ♣ Jack, 4, 2 and Ace.
6. East leads the ♥ 3 to West’s Queen. The ♥ 3 is suit preference for a club return.
7. West leads the ♣ 5, dummy the 6, East trumps with the ♠ 5, and South plays the ♣ 10!
8. The ♥6 by East, South 5, West 8, and declarer ruffing with dummy’s ♠ 4.
9. Declarer draws trump with ♠ Ace and King and returns to hand with the ♠Queen.
10. The under play of the ♣ 10 was key. Declarer now can finesse the 9, play the King and make the hand. ‘Complicated.’
11. The defense is limited to ♥1, the Ace of ♣ and a ♣ ruff.
[tip of the day]
Q. Kenny, I hear players talk about the ‘Scissors Coup.’ What is this?
A. The ‘Scissors Coup’ is a ploy to cut off or limit defender’s communication.
[Do you have a good bridge tip? Email kennethmbland@yahoo.com]
