Idiot Coup

An idiot coup is a defensive play that invites declarer to literally play the hand as if the defenders were idiots.

In the following layout, imagine that declarer needs 5 tricks from spades. He starts by leading a low spade toward dummy:

Dummy

AKT93

West East

J5 Q2

Declarer

8764

West follows with the J as if he were an idiot ostensibly splitting his spade honors. If the coup works, declarer will win this trick in dummy, cross back to his hand in a side suit, and lead a second spade toward dummy. West will play low, declarer will finesse, and East will win the Q.