This
deal
is from the Great Northern Swiss Pairs.
The
Devil's Coup is possibly the rarest end position in
bridge. I have never seen one played, this
deal was nearly there.
When
Rodney Lighton took a rosy view of his hand Tom
Dessain was left in four spades with seemingly four
losers, one in each suit.
West
led a diamond ducked by declarer then the defence
played ace and another club. Tom then played
a heart to the king and ruffed a club, then a
diamond to the ace and ruffed a diamond in hand. Now
he cashed the heart ace and exited in hearts to
leave the end position below, with East on play.
At
this point East led her last club, so Tom was able
to discard from hand and ruff in dummy, now the last
diamond from dummy was ruffed by East, over ruffed
by declarer and he had the ace and king of trumps
for the last two tricks. Because West had the
nine of spades, East could have beaten the contract
by playing a spade in the diagrammed position.
For this to have been a true devil's coup the nine
and five of spades would have to be swapped.
Now a spade exit goes to the jack and ace and South
can finesse the spade ten for the contract.
But well played by Tom for a complete top.
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