BRIDGE

Trump Coup Tommy, South in today’s deal, had some fun in the auction. He had no real choice but to rebid his anemic four-card diamond suit over partner’s negative double, but what should he bid over partner’s three-club cuebid? Most would bid three hearts, having denied four hearts the previous round. But what if, thought Tommy, partner was making an invitational raise in diamonds? Tommy didn’t want to encourage him. And anyway, how often do you get to bid a four-card suit three times?

The ace of clubs lead held the first trick, and West shifted to the queen of hearts. Tommy won with his ace and led a low diamond to dummy’s jack, winning the trick as West ducked his ace. There was a straight-forward line of play available that might succeed with favorable breaks, but it would not involve a trump coup. Tommy rejected it. He led a low spade to his 10 like a man who knew it would work.

Tommy cashed the king of spades and led another diamond to West’s ace. Tommy ruffed the club continuation in dummy and cashed the ace and queen of spades, discarding a heart and a club from his hand. He led a heart to his king and ruffed his last club with dummy’s king of trumps. In the two-card ending, Tommy scored both his queen and nine of trumps through East’s 10. Not a real trump coup, but close enough to please Tommy.