Test your defensive skill in today’s deal from a match-point event that had 50 tables on play.
Initial Play
You lead the D2 to 3, Queen and declarer's Ace.
South leads a Spade to dummy's Queen, winning the trick. He plays the King next with East discarding the C2. You refuse to win again and declarer exits with a third trump to your Ace on which partner discards the 2 of Hearts.
You cash the DK and play the DJ, which declarer ruffs, pitching a heart in dummy. Declarer now plays a club which you win with the King.
The moment of truth has arrived. What next?
Analysis
You can see four tricks for your side, if declarer has a doubleton club. Where is the setting trick to come from?
You pause to think what declarer’s hand might be. If he has a 6-3-2-2 distribution, his hand is likely to be something like
This is not the time to play the fourth diamond. Declarer will ruff and lead another club and claim nine tricks, pitching his heart losers on the winner clubs.
If you shift to a low heart, he will run it to his queen and play a club towards dummy’s queen, to make the contract. So, what should you do? Do pause to think before you go one. Declarer's probable distribution should give you a hint.
Discussion
The solution is simple. Shift dramatically to the Heart King!The complete hand was as below
Here, you have sacrificed your King but get back the trick via the Jack of Hearts in the end. Note that if declarer had had the Heart Jack as well, you couldn't have done anything.
This play of the Heart King, which destroyed the entry to dummy's potential winners is called the ‘Merrimac Coup'.
As an aside, did you realize you are two down in 2NT. It was foolish of North to bid 3S. He should know partner rates to have an ace, as he has opened a bad suit. He should have passed and led the SK. An ‘absolute top' converted to an ‘absolute bottom’ by North!
Do put down your comments on the hand in the comments section below
Disclaimer : All opinions are entirely those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the BridgeFromHome Team.
while the defence is nice, the declarer should not have given you the chance. why would he not play a club at trick 2. defence is totally helpless against that play.
2nt can also be taken out to 3 diamond.
sry, my bad, defence can. prevail.
Leading the 2D is hardly normal
The assumption south must have an ace is erroneous
Sure he has some high cards.
3S is a cold contract.
As stated above.
Establish the club suit before massacring your entries and allowing opponents to switch.
Thanks for the comment.
On hindsight, many improvements on bdding and play are definitely possible.. but we should remember we have to do them within the six minutes allotted time.
Even if declarer plays a club at trick two instead of a trump which he did, Merrimac Coup defeats the declarer
I have reported the deal as what happened at my table.
Constructive criticism is welcome
Indeed it does!
For those who wish detail
Diamond to Ace
Cx won by King
Cash DK and get diamond count
Play HK!
If declarer plays three rounds of trumps, he has closed himself from dummy, so he plays CQ from dummy to clear the clubs.
Win and play a heart to declarer’s queen. (remember if declarer has the QJ of hearts, nothing can be done)
Now win the first round of trumps and cash the set up heart.
As LS often says himself, play out the hand with a deck of cards to appreciate the beauty.