Merrimac Coup by Foxymoron

The Merrimac Coup, by which a defender sacrifices an honour to deny declarer an entry to dummy is named after the Merrimac. This was a steamship, built by the Swan & Hunter shipyard as SS Solveig in Wallsend, England, in November 1894. It was purchased by the US Navy in April 1898. Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered her to be sunk as a blockship at the entrance of Santiago Harbour, Cuba, in an attempt to trap the Spanish fleet in the harbour.

 

Usually the card sacrificed is a king, and it usually forces declarer to win the ace in dummy prematurely. Harvey Fox and Fred Pitel had a top here when the defence did not find the Merrimac:

Harvey, North, and Fred, South, had a good auction The North hand is very powerful, but only strong enough for a one-level opener, but when South responds 1S it is worth game. It is far too strong for 3D and 3S is also an underbid. I would bid 2H with my regular partner,  as we play that as artificial, showing either a reverse or hands with 3 or 4 spade support. With simple methods, I think 4C is  a good bid. Add the queen of spades to the South hand and slam would be good. On this hand South signed off in 4S. This is always making 12 tricks for a top, and indeed only the king of hearts lead, a Merrimac Coup, holds it to 12. Declarer needs a late entry to enjoy the diamonds and although this gives declarer 3 heart tricks it does hold it to 12. On the club lead, Fred could even make all thirteen tricks, drawing three rounds of trumps, cashing the ace of diamonds and ruffing a diamond, drawing the other trump, and enjoying all the diamonds. But making 12 was fine and an outright top. Richard and Debbie, EW, recovered from this blow to share first place, and consoled themselves that even finding the KH lead would have still been 0%.