In last week’s column I briefly mentioned the “Crocodile Coup” (getting rid of a high card to avoid being end played) and that brought to mind a number of other interesting hands involving bridge coups – of which there are many.

The one we are all most familiar with is the “Bath Coup”, where an opponent leads the King against 3NT and declarer holds off with AJx, stopping a continuation, but there are tons of others, many of which we use without even knowing that they have a name.

It is always extremely satisfying to execute one at the table and this deal from the recent Bermuda Bowl held in Marrakech (a few days before the earthquake!) is an example of one of the more famous coups in the game.

Bermuda Bowl, Round 19, Poland v India, Board 9: see Figure 1.

In the Closed Room the Indian pair got to 3NT and made the obvious nine tricks.

The bidding in the Open Room was a bit muddled: see Figure 2.

All four players bid diamonds at some point! I have no idea what West’s double meant – it would normally show spades and hearts, and I would have thought a free bid of two hearts would be better, but the Poles use intricate systems.

Anyway the contract was five clubs – South led the diamond five and declarer took dummy’s Ace, drew three rounds of trumps and then played the eight of hearts to the three, ten and Queen.

Sitting North for India was Rajeshwar Tiwari. Tiwari saw that the heart suit would soon be set up (partner had played the six, so he couldn’t have three hearts as he would have played the three) and in a flash he put the King of spades on the table – the “Merrimac Coup“!

Declarer had now been given a spade trick, but with the heart suit dead he had to finally lose a spade at the end – down one and a big swing to India. The defence is not that difficult to see, but needs courage to execute at the table – well done, Rajesh!

So, the Merrimac Coup is the sacrifice of a high card, usually a King, in order to remove a vital entry from an opponent’s hand. Let me know if you ever get a chance to make this play at the table – in my bridge career I’ve probably only had it about five times, but each time was sweeter than the one before!

Last call for those of you who would like a signed copy of Zia Mahmood’s wonderful book Bridge A Love Story. I am seeing Zia in London next week and will return with the books that have been requested in the first week of November. If you want one e-mail me at the address below – payment will be sorted later.

• David Ezekiel can be reached on davidezekiel999@gmail.com

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, October 13

1. Jane Smith-Sancia Garrison

2. Jack Rhind-Gertrude Barker

3. Aida Bostelmann-Heather Woolf

Monday, October 16

North/South

1. Gertrude Barker-Jane Smith

2. John Burville-Makiko Rogers

3. Stephanie Kyme-Joseph Wakefield

East/West

1. Rachael Gosling-H J

2. Peter Donnellan-John Rayner

3. Lorna Anderson-Heather Woolf

Tuesday, October 17

North/South

1. Malcolm Moseley-Benjamin Stone

2. James Mulderig-Robert Mulderig

East/West

1. Jamie Sapsford-Jane Downing

2. Nikki Boyce-Carol Eastham

Wednesday, October 18

1. Joseph Wakefield-Molly Taussig

2. Tony Saunders-Charles Hall (Tied 2nd)

3. Caroline Svensen-Jane Clipper (Tied 2nd)

Thursday, October 19

1. Miodrag Novakovic-Margaret Way

2. Keith Smith Molly Taussig

3. Peter Donnellan-Lynanne Bolton