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

W               E

S

 ♠ 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

  1. ^ "Kudos for a Coup and an Inventor", Alan Truscott, New York Times, June 7 1987
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Daily Bulletin of the Generali World Masters Championship, 19 April 1998.
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