NEIL HAYWARD BRIDGE

NORTH

A9 5

84

J T 8 4 3

AK J

WEST EAST

♠ 76 ♠ K 8 3

♥ Q J T ♥ AK 7 6 3 ♦ 976 ♦2

♣ 98643 ♣ QT 7 2

SOUTH

♠ QJ T 4 2

♥ 9 5 2

♦ AK Q5 ♣5

Contract: 4♠ by South

Opening Lead: ♥Q. East overtakes and leads the ♦2. What is your plan?

Recommended Line: You would have to be very sleepy to miss the fact that East is planning to trump a diamond. If you win the diamond switch in hand, and finesse in trumps, East might win, return a heart, allowing West to win, and deliver a diamond ruff. You could claim that defeat was “unavoidable”. But somebody sharp enough to see the opportunity to execute a Scissors Coup might point out that you should win the diamond switch and cash ♣A, ♣K and ♣J. You hope East holds the ♣Q. If so, East wins the third club, while your remaining hearts are discarded from hand. West’s hand cannot be reached via a heart lead, so they do not achieve a diamond ruff. You lose a heart, a club and a spade, but gain Partner’s respect. *