The Vienna coup is: an unblocking technique in contract bridge made in preparation for a squeeze play. 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.
Examples※
♠ | A J | Example 1 South——to lead | |
♥ | A | ||
♦ | — | ||
♣ | 2 | ||
N |
♠ | K Q | |
♥ | K 4 | ||
♦ | — | ||
♣ | — | ||
♠ | 4 | ||
♥ | Q 2 | ||
♦ | — | ||
♣ | A |
On the——play of the ♣A by South, East is squeezed but can escape by throwing small heart. Although the ♥Q is now set up, South must next play either the ♥Q, ♥2/♠4——to be, "won in dummy." And has no entry back to cash it; he must now lose a spade to East.
North to lead
N
E
S
However, "if instead," South plays the ♥2 to the ♥A, East is squeezed when declarer next leads the ♣2 to the "ace."
|
South to lead
N
E
S
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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Culbertson, Ely, ed. (1935). The Encyclopedia of Bridge. New York: The Bridge World, Inc. p. 453.
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