A Grand Coup

A K J 3

8 7

A 9 8

A 9 8 2

4 2

10 4 2

K Q 10 7 2

K Q J

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	1 ♣1	Pass
1 ♦	1 ♥	Dbl2	Pass
2 ♥3	Pass	3 ♥4	Pass
4 ♣5	Pass	5 ♦	All Pass

1. Playing 12-14 NT

2. Support double - showing exactly three diamonds and nothing else about the hand.

3. I don't know what to do, but I've got some extras.

4. I don't know what to do, either, but I also have extras.

5. Do club values help?

West led the ♥ A-K, then continued with a small heart, which I ruffed low in dummy. East followed to all three rounds, showing up with ♥ Q-J-3. It looks like East might find a heart lead after a more normal 1 NT - 3 NT auction, so we've found a good spot.

I started drawing trumps, playing the ace and the king, and West showed out on the second round. As usual, my opponents are playing above their level against me - if my left-hand opponent had not forced me to ruff in dummy, I could have taken care against the 4-1 trump split.

Well, there was nothing left to do but hope my RHO had at least three clubs and two spades. I played out my club winners from hand, both following to all three rounds, leading to this position:

A K J 3

—

x x x

—

J x

—

4 2

—

Q 10 7

—

I crossed to the ♠ A and ruffed the ♣ A, East pitching a spade. Then I crossed to the ♠ K, and with the lead in dummy at this trick:

J 3

—

J x

—

Q 10

—

I got the last two tricks.

Notice I could have overtaken the third club and ruffed a small club in my hand, but then if East had four clubs, this would technically be a simple trump coup, while ruffing the ace makes it a "Grand Coup." Indeed, you can't get any grander than ruffing your own ace.