Study 9P65   Main


Trump Coup & Endplay


  by Richard Pavlicek

A trump coup operates like a trump finesse, except a plain suit is led, and the finesse is achieved by an overruff. A trump endplay simply forces an opponent to lead the trump suit for you. The two techniques are closely related, as both attempt to gain a trick in the trump suit itself. Also included here is the smother play and its variations. About the Techniques

1. Trump reduction and endplay

S win 3
auto
S A J 10 5
H
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
Lead
H 2!
S J!
2nd
4
Q
3rd
S 5
2
4th
3
H 5
S
H 7 6 5 4
D
C
Table S K Q 9
H 3
D
C
South leads S 4 3 2
H 2
D
C

Most trump endings require reduction prior.

2. Forced ruff trump endplay

S win 2
auto bi
S A Q
H
D 2
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H 2!
2nd
3
3rd
D 2!
4th
S 4
S
H 4 3
D 3
C
Table S K J 4
H
D
C
South leads S 3 2
H 2
D
C

3. High ruff endplay or control retention

S win 3
auto? bi?
S A K J
H A
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
D 4
2nd
K
3rd
S K!
4th
S
H 3 2
D A K
C
Table S Q 10 9
H
D
C A
South leads S
H
D 7 6 5 4
C

4. Underruff trump endplay

S win 2
auto
S A 3 2
H
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H 2
2nd
S 9
3rd
S 2!
4th
3
S K J 9
H
D
C
Table S 5 4
H 3
D
C
South leads S Q 10
H 2
D
C

5. Basic trump coup

S win 2
S A Q
H
D
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H 2
2nd
S J
3rd
S Q
4th
S K J
H
D
C
Table S
H 5 4
D
C
South leads S
H 3 2
D
C

6. Trump reduction and coup

S win 4
S A Q 2
H
D 2
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
Lead
H A
D 2
2nd
2
5
3rd
S 2!
A
4th
3
3
S K J
H 2
D 3
C
Table S
H 4 3
D 6 5
C
South leads S
H A K
D A 4
C

7. Surplus winner trump coup

S win 3
S A Q
H
D 2
C
Trick
1 S
2 S
Lead
H A!
D A
2nd
C 2
S J
3rd
D 2
S Q
4th
D 4
S K J
H
D
C 2
Table S
H
D 6 5 4
C
South leads S
H A
D A 3
C

8. Underruff trump coup

S win 3
S A J 9
H
D 3
C
Trick
1 S
2 W
Lead
H A!
C A
2nd
S K
D 3
3rd
S 9!
D 4
4th
2
S 3
S K Q 10
H
D
C A
Table S
H 3 2
D 5 4
C
South leads S 3
H A
D A 2
C

9. Underruff overruff trump coup

S win 3
S A J 9 2
H
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 W
Lead
S 3
D 3
2nd
Q
S 2
3rd
9!
2
4th
H 4
S 4
S K Q 10
H
D 3
C
Table S
H 6 5 4
D 2
C
South leads S 4 3
H 3 2
D
C

10. Repeat underruff trump coup

S win 4
bi
S 4 3
H A
D
C A 3
Trick
1 W
2 N
3 E
Lead
D 8
H A!
D 3
2nd
S 3
S K
C 2
3rd
2
S 9!
5
4th
S 2!
D 4
S 4
S
H
D 8 7 6 5 4
C
Table S K Q 10
H
D 3 2
C
West leads S A J 9 2
H
D
C 2

Study 9P65   MainTop   Trump Coup & Endplay

11. Repeat trump coup

S win 4
S A J 9 2
H
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
Lead
H 2
S 2
2nd
S 7
D 2
3rd
S 9
K
4th
5
8
S Q 10 8 7
H
D
C
Table S
H 6 5
D 3 2
C
South leads S K
H 4 3 2
D
C

12. Crossruff repeat trump coup

S win 4
S A J 9
H
D 2
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
Lead
H 2!
D 2
2nd
S 7
3
3rd
S 9
S K
4th
5
S 8
S Q 10 8 7
H
D
C
Table S
H 6 5
D 4 3
C
South leads S K
H 4 3 2
D
C

13. Squeeze trump coup

S win 5
S A Q 2
H J 4
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 S
Lead
D K
H 4
D A
2nd
H Q
2
3rd
S 2!
A
4th
10
K
S K J
H K Q
D
C 2
Table S
H 3 2
D Q J 10
C
South leads S
H A
D A K 3 2
C

If West pitches a club, North pitches heart.

14. Smother endplay

S win 2
bi
S A
H 4 3
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 E
Lead
H 2!
D 4
2nd
D 2
S J
3rd
3
4th
A
S K 10
H
D 2
C
Table S
H A
D 4 3
C
South leads S Q J
H 2
D
C

15. Trump coup and smother

S win 3
S K 9 3
H
D 2
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
Lead
H 2!
S 3!
2nd
S 6
A
3rd
S 9
2
4th
3
7
S Q 8 7 6
H
D
C
Table S A
H 5 4 3
D
C
South leads S J 10 2
H 2
D
C

16. Smother trump coup or crossruff

S win 4
bi
S Q 9
H
D 5 4 3
C
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 N
Lead
D 2!
H 6
S Q!
2nd
A
S 9!
3rd
3
S 6
4th
H 2
C A
S
H 6 5 4 3
D A
C
Table S K 8 7 6
H 2
D
C
South leads S A J 10
H
D 2
C A

17. Loser-on-loser smother

S win 2
auto
S J 10 2
H
D 3
C
Trick
1 S
2 W
Lead
H 2!
C 4
2nd
A
S J!
3rd
D 3!
4th
D A
S
H A
D
C 4 3 2
Table S A Q 8
H
D A
C
South leads S K 9
H 2
D 2
C

Auto case produces trump endplay instead.

18. Overruff crossruff finesse

S win 3
S A 9
H
D 2
C
Trick
1 S
Lead
H 2!
2nd
S Q
3rd
S A
4th
A
S Q 8 7
H
D
C
Table S J 6
H A
D
C
South leads S K 10
H 2
D
C

19. Extended overruff crossruff finesse

S win 4
S A K 7
H
D 2
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
Lead
H 2!
D 2
2nd
S 10
S 9
3rd
S K
S Q
4th
A
A
S J 10 4
H
D A
C
Table S 9 6 5
H A
D
C
South leads S Q 8
H 3 2
D
C

20. Transfer smother or elopement

S win 4
auto? bi?
S A 10 3
H
D
C A 4
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 N
Lead
S Q!
C A
S 3!
2nd
K
2
J
3rd
A
D 2
2
4th
4
3
5
S K 9 6 5
H
D
C 3
Table S J 4
H 3 2
D
C 2
South leads S Q 8 7 2
H
D 2
C

If S Q wins, cross to S A, ruff club and lead D 2.

Study 9P65   MainTop   Trump Coup & Endplay

21. High ruff and smother

S win 3
auto
S K J 10
H 4
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
Lead
D 2
H 4!
2nd
3
C 2
3rd
S K!
2
4th
H 5
A
S
H A
D 5 4 3
C
Table S Q 9
H 5
D
C 2
South leads S A
H 3 2
D 2
C

Auto case trivial with plain diamond ruff.

22. Elopement trump endplay

S win 4
S A 7 6
H 3
D 2
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 S
Lead
C 2!
D 2!
H 2!
2nd
H 4
H 5
3rd
S 6
S 5
4th
A
A
S K 8
H K 4
D A
C
Table S J 9
H A 5
D
C A
South leads S Q 10 5
H 2
D
C 2

If either ruffs, discard and pick up trumps.

23. Extended trump endplay

S win 4
S Q J 9 4 3
H
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 N
3 S
Lead
H 2!
S 3
H 3
2nd
4
6
5
3rd
S J
8
S Q!
4th
S 5
D 2
S
H 6 5 4
D 3 2
C
Table S A 10 7 6 5
H
D
C
South leads S K 8 2
H 3 2
D
C

Curiously fails in auto case with trumps onside.

24. Forced ruff repeat trump endplay

S win 3
auto bi
S A Q 10
H 5 4
D
C
Trick
1 S
2 E
3 N
Lead
H 2!
S 8
H 5!
2nd
Q
2
3rd
4
D 2
4th
S 7
10
S
H A K Q
D 3 2
C
Table S K J 9 8 7
H
D
C
South leads S 4 3 2
H 3 2
D
C

25. Underruff reduction trump endplay

S win 3
auto bi
S 10 2
H A K
D 2
C
Trick
1 W
2 E
3 S
Lead
H 2
D 4
C 2!
2nd
A
S 4
3rd
S J
3
4th
S 3!
2
S K Q 9
H 2
D 3
C
Table S J
H
D 7 6 5 4
C
West leads S A 5 4 3
H
D
C 2

Auto/bi cases trivial (no S J uppercut).

Study 9P65   MainTop   Trump Coup & Endplay

Anti trump coup and endplay

26. Underruff anti trump endplay

S win 2
bi
S
H 5 4
D A 6
C
Trick
1 W
Lead
H 2
2nd
4
3rd
S K
4th
S 9!
S
H 3 2
D 4 3
C
Table S A K J
H
D 5
C
West leads S Q 10 9
H
D 2
C

27. Underruff anti crossruff endplay

S win 2
bi
S
H 6 5 4
D 3
C
Trick
1 W
2 E
Lead
H 2
D 2
2nd
4
S 8
3rd
S K
4th
S 7!
S Q 4
H 3 2
D
C
Table S K J 9
H
D 2
C
West leads S A 10 8 7
H
D
C

28. Ruff refusal anti trump coup

S win 1
auto bi
S K J
H
D A
C
Trick
1 W
Lead
H A
2nd
D A!
3rd
S 2
4th
2
S
H A
D 4 3
C
Table S A Q 2
H
D
C
West leads S
H 3 2
D 2
C

Auto/bi cases trivial.

29. Ruff delay anti trump coup

S win 1
auto bi
S K J 2
H
D 4
C
Trick
1 W
2 W
Lead
H A
H 4
2nd
D 4!
S 2
3rd
D 6
4th
2
S
H A 4
D A 5
C
Table S A Q 10
H
D 6
C
West leads S
H 3 2
D 3 2
C

Auto/bi cases trivial.

30. Reduction non-assist anti trump coup

S win 1
auto bi
S K J
H 4
D 4
C
Trick
1 S
2 W
Lead
D 3!
D K
2nd
A
H 4!
3rd
4
4th
5
S
H 3 2
D A K
C
Table S A Q 2
H
D 5
C
South leads S
H A K
D 3 2
C

31. Reduction non-assist anti trump endplay

S win 2
bi
S
H 4 3
D 2
C 6 5
Trick
1 S
2 W
3 S
Lead
H 2!
H K
C 4
2nd
A
4
3rd
3
D 3
4th
5
S 2
S
H A K
D A 5 4
C
Table S A Q J
H 5
D 3
C
South leads S K 3 2
H 2
D
C 4

32. Unblock anti smother

S win 2
auto bi
S K 10
H J 3
D
C
Trick
1 W
Lead
H 4
2nd
3
3rd
A
4th
Q!
S Q J
H 5 4
D
C
Table S A
H A 9 8
D
C
West leads S
H Q 2
D 3 2
C

33. Winner ruff anti smother

S win 2
bi
S
H A
D 5 4 3 2
C
Trick
1 W
2 S
Lead
H 3
S 3!
2nd
A
J
3rd
2
D 2
4th
S 2!
8
S A J
H 5 4 3
D
C
Table S K 10 9 8
H 2
D
C
West leads S Q 4 3 2
H
D 6
C

Study 9P65   MainTop   Trump Coup & Endplay

© 2014 Richard Pavlicek