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Answer You have a minimum jump shift with an excellent spade suit. This can be indicated by rebidding 4S at this stage. Since such a rebid is non-forcing, although strongly invitational, you would not make it if your hand was stronger. For example, give yourself A-Q-2 of diamonds instead of K-J-2 and you would rebid only 3S leaving space for slam investigations. Awards: 4S-10, 3S-7, 3NT-3, 4NT-2. — Knight Features |
WEST
leads the king of clubs, East overtaking with the ace and returning the
10 of diamonds. How would you play the hand? East’s diamond switch is
a strange move. It certainly looks as if he has a singleton diamond and
is hoping to score a ruff. Suppose you follow a simple line, winning the
diamond switch with jack and running the trump queen. East will win with
the king, cross to West’s queen of clubs, and ruff the diamond return.
One down. A better idea is to play ace and another trump. This would
prevent the ruff when trumps were 2-2. Something much more exotic is
available, however. After winning the diamond switch you should cash the
ace and king of hearts. You then lead the queen of trumps — just in
case West covers — and overtake with dummy’s ace. The king does not
fall and you continue with the jack of hearts. When East, the safe hand,
covers with the queen you throw your remaining club. There is now no
entry to the West hand and the defenders cannot score a ruff. Known
originally as the ‘coup without a name’ this manoeuvre was renamed
by the late, great Terence Reese as the ‘scissors coup’.
What
would you say now?