ACBL32 – Declarer: Bath Coup             Ward Trumbull

                                                                                              Aug 15, 2011

                                                                                              Page 1 of 2

 

      When an opponent (usually the opening lead) leads the king of a suit, indicating that he/she also has the queen in that suit, the declarer may

execute a “hold up” play known as the Bath Coup.

 

      In a Bath Coup, the declarer has both the ace and jack in the suit being lead, and endeavors to take tricks with both the ace and jack.

 

Example 1:                           North

                                             4 3 2

                  West                                       East

                  K Q 10 9                                 7 6 5

                                            South

                                            A J 8

 

      If the declarer takes the king lead with his/her ace, the jack will eventually lose to west’s queen.  However, if the declarer holds up on the ace (Bath Coup) , and LHO continues with the queen: declarer will take the queen with his/her ace and later also win a trick with the jack.

 

      West can defeat the Bath Coup by paying attention to his/her partner’s

low card on the trick.  Low being an attitude signal that partner does not have the jack.

 

Example 2:                           North

                                             A 3 2

                  West                                       East

                  K Q 10 9                                 7 6 5

                                            South

                                            J 8 4

 

      A Bath Coup would also be applicable on this suit if the king were lead.

 

If east had something like 4 9 jack in that suit, he/she must signal with the

nine.  If so, west could then continue with the queen.

 

                     ACBL32 – Declarer: Bath Coup             Aug 15, 2011

                                                                                              Page 2 of 2

 

Example 3:                           North

                                             A J 8

                  West                                       East

                  K Q 10 9                                 7 6 5

                                            South

                                            4 3 2

 

      This is not a Bath Coup situation because the queen is not behind the jack.  Declarer should take his/her ace and later should get the jack because it is behind the queen.

 

Example 4:                           North

                                             J 4 3

                  West                                       East

                  K Q 10 9                                 7 6 5

                                            South

                                            A 8 2

 

      This too is not a Bath Coup because the jack is behind the queen.  Take the king with the ace.

 

Example 5:       North        North        North        North

                         4 3 2         10 4 3      A 4 3         A 10 4

 

                         South       South       South       South

                         A J 10      A J 2        J 10 2       J 3 2

 

      These too are not Bath Coup situations because the declarer has the 10 in the suit.  The first two are variations on example 1.  The last 2 are variations on example 2.  In all four cases, declarer should take the king with his/her ace.  A trick will be lost to the opponent’s queen, but declarer will eventually get the jack or 10.