THE NO-BATH COUP

By Derek Rimington

The Bath Coup is a simple hold-up play. It dates from the days of whist, and probably first occurred in Bath.

Basically, it takes place when the king is led initially and declarer, holding A-J-x and assuming the lead to be from K-Q, ducks in an attempt to persuade the leader to continue the suit to declarer's advantage. It is essential for third hand to play the jack if it is held. By this means the opener's holding (K-Q-10) becomes a sequence and hence it will be continued.

Have you, however, heard of 'pulling the jack-plug'? Consider the following deal:

K 3   8 6 4   J 7 2   A Q J 4 2     8 7 2   K Q 10 9 7   Q 8 5   8 6   J 10 5   5 2   K 10 9 6   K 9 5 3     A Q 9 6 4   A J 3   A 4 3   10 7

West	North	East	South
			1
Pass	2	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	End

When West leads the K, South does not want him to switch. On this deal a diamond at trick two would mean defeat. To encourage a continuation, why not 'empty the bath' by playing the jack? A continuation is then won and the club finesse is taken. Although it loses, East does not have another heart to lead and, if he had, the suit would break 4-3 and not be dangerous.

However, if East-West understand each other's carding methods, then this deception should not work. On the lead of a king against a no-trump contract, third hand should play an honour if he has one; failing that, he should give count.

Here West should realise that if declarer's J is indeed from A-J doubleton, then East has played the 5 from an original holding of 5-3-2.

In such situations it is better to trust partner rather than declarer: after all, partner is supposed to be on our side - even if it does not always seem so!