Vienna coup

The Vienna coup is an unblocking technique in contract bridge made in preparation for a squeeze play.[1] It is so named because it was originally published by James Clay (1804-1873) after observing it being executed in the days of whist by "the greatest player in Vienna" — identity unknown.[2]

Examples

♠ A J Example 1
South to lead
♥ A
♦ —
♣ 2

N

                 E

S

 ♠ K Q
♥ K 4
♦ —
♣ —
♠ 4
♥ Q 2
♦ —
♣ A

On the play of the ♣A by South, East is squeezed but can escape by throwing a small heart. Although the ♥Q is now set up, South must next play either the ♥Q, ♥2 or ♠4 to be won in dummy and has no entry back to cash it; he must now lose a spade to East.

♠ A J Example 2
North to lead
♥ —
♦ —
♣ 2

N

                 E

S

 ♠ K Q
♥ K
♦ —
♣ —
♠ 4
♥ Q
♦ —
♣ A

However, if instead, South plays the ♥2 to the ♥A, East is squeezed when declarer next leads the ♣2 to the ace.

  • If East discards the ♥K, declarer cashes the ♥Q discarding the ♠J and leads to the ♠A.
  • If East discards the ♠K or ♠Q, declarer cashes the ♠A and ♠J.
♠ A J Example 3
South to lead
♥ —
♦ 2
♣ —

N

                 E

S

 ♠ K Q
♥ K
♦ —
♣ —
♠ 4
♥ Q
♦ —
♣ A

In this layout there is no way to get back to the hand by playing the ♣2 to the ace. In this case, the ♥A must have been cashed already at an earlier stage to squeeze East when declarer leads the ♣A and discards the ♦2 from the table.

References

  1. ^ 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. 470. ISBN 978-0-939460-99-1.
  2. ^ Culbertson, Ely, ed. (1935). The Encyclopedia of Bridge. New York: The Bridge World, Inc. p. 453.