Scissors coup

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This article concerns Contract Bridge and uses terminology associated with the game. See Contract bridge glossary for an explanation of unfamiliar words or phrases.

Scissors coup is a type of coup, named so because it cuts communications between defenders, most commonly by discarding a key card from either the declarer's own hand or dummy. This enables declarer to prevent the defenders transferring the lead, usually for a defensive ruff.

Consider the following hand played in 5 diamonds (after the bidding E: 3♥; S: 5♦; All pass) on the lead of the 8 of hearts, with East playing the queen:

		♠	K975
		♥	32
		♦	76
		♣	KT743
♠	J83	N W E S		♠	642
♥	84			♥	AQT9765
♦	AJ			♦	2
♣	AJ9652			♣	Q8
		♠	AQJ
		♥	KJ
		♦	KQT98543
		♣	-

Superficially, it looks like there are only 2 losers: A heart and a diamond. However, if East gets the lead with the ace of hearts, he can lead a third round to give his partner a trump promotion. The solution is elegant; upon winning the king of hearts cross to the king of spades and lead the king of clubs, throwing the jack of hearts. This Scissors coup has removed the heart entry to East's hand and the threat of a trump promotion vanishes.