Deschapelles coup
In bridge, the Deschapelles coup is the lead of an unsupported honor to create an entry in partner's hand; often confused with the Merrimac coup, the lead of an unsupported honor to kill an entry in an opponent's hand.
This sacrificial play was invented by Alexandre Deschapelles, a 19th-century French chess and whist player.[1][2]
Example
Geir Helgemo executed this Deschapelles Coup in a 1998 tournament.[3]
| South in 4♦ | ♠♤ | J 6 | |||
| ♥ | A J 10 8 3 | ||||
| ♦ | Q 6 2 | ||||
| ♣♧ | K J 8 | ||||
| ♠♤ | 5 4 3 2 | N |
♠♤ | K Q 10 8 7 | |
| ♥ | Q 5 | ♥ | K 9 6 2 | ||
| ♦ | J | ♦ | K 9 7 | ||
| ♣♧ | 10 9 7 5 3 2 | ♣♧ | A | ||
| Lead: | ♠♤ | A 9 | |||
| ♥ | 7 4 | ||||
| ♦ | A 10 8 5 4 3 | ||||
| ♣♧ | Q 6 4 | ||||
Helgemo was East against South's 4♦. West led a small spade, Helgemo put up the and South won the . South then returned a spade to Helgamo's . Helgemo cashed the and switched to the (the coup). Dummy won the and played the to the , and .
Now declarer tried to enter dummy with the , but Helgemo ruffed, put West in with the , and ruffed the club return for down two.
It would not have helped South to duck the because Helgemo would simply have continued hearts, winding up with a trick in each suit.
And it would not have helped Helgemo to switch to a low heart at trick four. South wins West's with the , leads the , covered and won, and then leads another heart to endplay Helgemo.
This is a particularly unusual Deschapelles coup, because it is combined with a Merrimac coup. The same play of the both establishes an entry for West and takes out an entry to dummy.
References
- ^ "Kudos for a Coup and an Inventor", Alan Truscott, New York Times, June 7 1987
- ^ Manley, Brent; Horton, Mark; Greenberg-Yarbro, Tracey; Rigal, Barry, eds. (2011). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (7th ed.). Horn Lake, MS: American Contract Bridge League. p. 449. ISBN 978-0-939460-99-1.
- ^ Daily Bulletin of the Generali World Masters Championship, 19 April 1998.