CONTRACT BRIDGE

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 3

CONTRACT BRIDGE

Recognized Coups (Specially Written for The Southland Times.) (By William Shackle). Sometimes one is not able to achieve one’s object by the simple and straightforward methods explained in the last two articles in this column. Neverthe less by a little manoeuvring the lead can be put into the correct hand by means of various standardized coups, such as “The Vienna,” “The Grand,” “The Bath,” “Deschapelle’s,” and “The White Chapelle.” Each of these coups is really simplicity itself, when one has learned it, but a surprisingly large number of regular players fail to recognize such opportunities when the cards are so placed as to require the exercise of one of them. Each can be illustrated quite readily and, as examples are so helpful for memorizing, a short illustration of each is given below. The Vienna coup:—

S: - H: Q 8 D: K 4 C: — S: - Y S: 9 7 5 H: J 9 AB H: — D: Q 10 Z D: — C: — C: 7 S: — H: 4 D: 9 6 C: 10

No Trumps. Z to lead and make all four tricks. Z leads Club 10 and discards from Dummy the opposite suit to A’s discard. The Grand coup:—

S: — H: J JD: Q C: Q 3 S: — Y S: Q 8 H: — AB H: — D: 8 5 Z D: — C: 10 9 C: 8 6 S: K 10 5 H: — D: — C: 7

Spades are trumps. The lead is in dummy (Y) and declarer has to make the last four tricks. It will be seen that if Z has to lead up to B’s Spades he must lose a trick. He avoids it by playing a Heart or a Diamond from dummy, and if B does not ruff (naturally if he knew—as he should —that Z held three trumps, he would play a Club). Z trumps his own trick with Spade five. He now leads Club seven, and takes with dummy’s Queen. Whatever he now leads is immaterial, for Z can cover either of B’s trumps. The Bath coup—Y holds three small cards and Z, say, A J 4 of a suit of which King has been led by A. If Z takes with Ace, he is most unlikely to obtain another trick in this suit, so he plays the four on the first round If the suit is continued, and it probably will be, Z now makes two tricks. The Deschapelle’s coup:— No trumps. B to lead.

S: 10 H: - D: A 5 2 C: A J 6 S: J 9 8 7 Y S: - H: — AB H: 9 D: Q 7 3 Z D: K 6 3 C: — C: Q 9 4 S: — H: 8 7 D: J 9 C: K 8 3

B knows that his partner has several more Spades including the high-

est ones, and is non-suited in Hearts and Clubs. There is only one chance of A getting in. Does he hold Diamond Queen? B makes a sacrifice and plays King of Diamonds. If declarer is tempted to put up the Ace from dummy all is well for A. The White Chapelle coup:— Z is playing a no-trump declaration. B holds: Diamonds Ace and Three, the last four Clubs, no Hearts, or Spades. A leads King of Diamonds. B, instead of taking the risk of A continuing the suit, overtakes with his Ace. and with his four Clubs sets the contract by one trick. Provided one makes full use of such methods one soon finds that other good players are pleased to be one’s partners—a much more pleasant experience than to know that they feel> they have been unlucky in the cut!