I’m hugely ignorant when it comes to history – and just about everything else, except for bridge – but I do know a little about the Spanish-American war. Why? Because one of its most dramatic episodes, the sinking of the cargo ship Merrimac, has lent its name to a bridge coup.
Early in 1898, the US navy hatched a plan to rig the Merrimac with explosives, sail it into the narrow channel leading into Santiago harbour, then blow it up, thereby blocking the Spanish fleet within the harbour. It was basically a suicide mission, so the skeleton crew of just eight men were volunteers.
It didn’t go to plan: the vessel was damaged by enemy fire and, despite sinking, failed to block the channel. But the crew survived. And their mission became for ever commemorated in bridge’s lexicon – what better name for a clever defensive manoeuvre, involving the sacrifice of an honour in order to block the opponents’ communications, than the Merrimac coup?
It’s rare to see a Merrimac coup at the table, but this one came up during the match between Poland and India at the recent Bermuda Bowl.
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