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: ♠2 | ♠ | 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 ♠Q and South won the ♠A. South then returned a spade to Helgamo's ♠K. Helgemo cashed the ♣A and switched to the ♥K (the coup). Dummy won the ♥A and played the ♦Q to the ♦K, ♦A and ♦J.
Now declarer tried to enter dummy with the ♣K, but Helgemo ruffed, put West in with the ♥Q, and ruffed the club return for down two.
It would not have helped South to duck the ♥K 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 ♥Q with the ♥A, leads the ♦Q, 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 ♥K 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.