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BRIDGE BITES  #41

      

 

THE DEVIL'S COUP

                                                            Brian Gunnell

 

You could play a lifetime of bridge without pulling off a Devil’s Coup, but it’s worth a look purely for its entertainment value.

 

 

♠ AT4

♥ Q954

♦ KJ96

♣ A7

 

♠ J73

♥ A872

♦ T82

♣ Q54

        Dummy

 

West            East

 

      Declarer

♠ Q8

♥ JT63

♦ 753

♣ J632

 

♠ K9652

♥ K

♦ AQ4

♣ KT98

 

 

It looks like Partner has overbid again because you find yourself in the dreadful contract of 6♠.  West cashes the ♥A at Trick 1 and now the success of your slam depends upon losing no trump tricks, missing QJ873.  The chances of one defender holding QJ doubleton are pretty remote (8%, actually) and you can do better by not drawing trumps.

 

At Trick 2, you ruff the Heart continuation, cash three Diamonds (ending in Dummy), ruff another Heart, cash ♣A and ♣K, and ruff a Club, reaching this position, with the lead in Dummy: 

 

♠ AT

♥ Q

♦ 9

♣

 

♠ J73

♥ 7

♦

♣

        Dummy

 

West            East

 

       Declarer

♠ Q8

♥ J

♦

♣ J

 

♠ K96

♥

♦

♣ T

 

 

Do you see how to win the rest of the tricks?

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