OK to run with scissors
Eric Rodwell was declaring this hand from Vanderbilt Round of 8:
| Dealer:
Vul: |
North
♠ AKxx ♥ Q ♦ Axxx ♣ QJTx |
|
| West
♠ xxx ♥ AJT ♦ QJTx ♣ xxx |
 |
East
♠ x ♥ K98xxx ♦ xx ♣ AKxx |
| South
♠ QJxxx ♥ xxx ♦ Kxx ♣ 9x |
| West (Stansby) | North (Meckstroth) | East (Martel) | South (Rodwell) |
| — | 1♣ (big, art) | 2♥ | Dbl (6-7 HCP) |
| 3♥ | P | P | 3♠ |
| P | 4♠ | All pass |
Opening lead was ♦Q, won by K in hand. I believe that next two tricks were ♠AK. Next was a club from dummy, won by ♣K. Diamond return to ♦A in dummy. Second club to ♣A. Now heart underlead to ♥A, and cash of ♦J for the set. Nice defense.
But had Rodwell led ♥Q early (scissors coup), the transportation between defenders would have been snipped. East has both club entries and no way to get to West to cash the third diamond. Meanwhile two of declarer’s red suit losers could be pitched on good clubs in dummy and the remaining heart loser ruffed. I believe at the other table a trump was led and so, without the diamond attack, timing was with declarer and 4♠ made.
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Bridge-related
Hi Jeff,
You chose a good hand to discuss.
Yes, the heart play at trick 2 will act as a valid scissors coup since the heart honors are split, both club honors are with East and the diamonds are 4-2 with West. That particular coup sometimes goes unnoticed and requires careful preparation from declarer, consuming time, which sometimes is irritating to the defense.
However, at least to me, I have learned (I think) through the years that trump leads in situations which, to say the least are iffy, are a BIG loser. Of course, in this case, leading partner’s suit is also a loser as would the diamond queen be if Eric would have spotted his scissors.
Bridge continues to rule and all of us lovers should always remember just how great a game it is.
From watching the just ended 2011 Vanderbilt, the right of passage is flying to the aggressive youngsters who sometimes make up for their inexperience with sheer aggressiveness. It is interesting for me to watch, learn and continue to be amazed at the diversity of problem solving which changes and improves our wonderful game.
Thank you for being a conduit to reporting what is happening.
Bobby Wolff