Vienna coup

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This article concerns Contract Bridge and uses terminology associated with the game. See Contract bridge glossary for an explanation of unfamiliar words or phrases.

The Vienna coup is an unblocking technique in contract bridge, so called because it was first recorded in Vienna in the days of whist, used to avoid problems when executing an automatic squeeze.

[edit] Examples

Take this sample hand, below.

♠	AJ
♥	A
♦	-
♣	2
N E   S		♠	KQ
		♥	K4
		♦	-
		♣	-
♠	4
♥	Q2
♦	-
♣	A

On the play of the ♣A East is squeezed, but can escape by throwing a small heart. Although the ♥Q is set up, there is no way back to the hand to cash the winning heart.

But look at the hand after the ♥2 is played to the ♥A.

♠	AJ
♥	-
♦	-
♣	2
N E   S		♠	KQ
		♥	K
		♦	-
		♣	-
♠	4
♥	Q
♦	-
♣	A

Now on the play of the ♣A East finds no escape. Unless he discards the ♥K the spades will be set up.