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Detail specifications 73OF - Level 2 ★

Scissors maneuver

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Scissors coup
In trump contracts, the declarer uses this coup when he feels threatened by a ruff. He definitely needs to avoid giving the lead to the dangerous opponent... the one going to give his partner a ruff.
This can happen when the declarer can discard a loser (or losers) from his hand or dummy's or both in order to cut the opponents' communications. Doing so, he may give the lead to the safe opponent...the ruffing one ! The scissors coup is protecting the declarer from a disastrous ruff.

Example : You are South, playing 5 COX. The leader plays K ♠, then 2 ♦. You take with your Ace. Looking at dummy, you feel the contract is going to be fruitful. 3 tricks to lose when the opponents would have won 4 ♠. But now, take a little time and count dummy's ♣....

SWNE
1
Pass
3
4
4
5
Pass
Pass
X
Pass
Pass
Pass
Q
6
5
J
10
4
J
10
8
4
3
A
J
A
J
9
4
A
6
3
10
9
8
7
2
    
K   
    
10
8
3
2
5
7
6
5
2
K
Q
6
4
7
K
Q
9
8
7
2
A
K
Q
9
5
3
Exercise 27263 You may face a ♣ ruff. On the 3rd trick, play Q ♠...and discard your ♦ loser. ♦ was the only way the opponents can communicate, but now East will never take the lead to give his partner a ♣ ruff...
 
 
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