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Detail specifications 62BZ - Level 1

Lavinthal Signals

Lavinthal Discard.
Lavinthal discard is used in NT contracts. It is perhaps just a little easier than Italian discard.
When you have to discard
  • play the suit that you're not interested in.
  • The strength of the card play shows preference for the suit you want : a high card is preference for the highest of the remaining suits.

You won't always have the appropriate card to play to signal your preference : but P can interpret your signal with regard to what's already been played, bidding sequence and cards at the dummy.
SWNE
1 SA Pass 3 SA Pass
Pass Pass
King Hearts
Queen Hearts
6 Hearts
Ace Clubs
King Clubs
Queen Clubs
3 Clubs
Queen Diamonds
9 Diamonds
 6  
    
    
9 Hearts
5 Hearts
2 Hearts
7 Clubs
5 Clubs
Ace Diamonds
King Diamonds
Jack Diamonds
8 Diamonds
Exercise 2817 You're East, playing defence. Declarer plays for the 4th round and you have to discard. You don't want or . Discard a high card so that your P when in hand will play the strongest of the remaining suits. Here it's . So discard the9
 
 
Lavinthal Discard : signalling for a lower suit
In the example below, clubs interests you! You don't hqve a low card, so discard a low card.
SWNE
1 SA Pass 3 SA Pass
Pass Pass
King Hearts
Queen Hearts
6 Hearts
King Clubs
3 Clubs
2 Clubs
King Diamonds
Queen Diamonds
10 Diamonds
 6  
    
    
10 Hearts
9 Hearts
7 Hearts
Ace Clubs
Queen Clubs
7 Clubs
5 Clubs
9 Diamonds
8 Diamonds
4 Diamonds
Exercise 2818 You're East, playing defence. Declarer plays for the 4th round and you have to discard. You don't want or .. Discard the 4 When your P sees this low card, he'll understand your suit preference is .
 
 
You don't have the right card?
This can happen very often!
  • Use the bidding sequence or the cards at dummy to signal your suit preference to your P.
  • In the example below, you're East playing against a 3NT contract declared by South. South plays for the 4th round and you have to discard. You don't have a low card to signal . What card do you play?
SWNE
1 SA Pass 3 SA Pass
Pass Pass
King Hearts
Queen Hearts
6 Hearts
King Clubs
3 Clubs
2 Clubs
Ace Diamonds
King Diamonds
10 Diamonds
 6  
    
    
10 Hearts
9 Hearts
7 Hearts
Ace Clubs
Queen Clubs
7 Clubs
5 Clubs
9 Diamonds
8 Diamonds
7 Diamonds
Exercise 2819 Discard the 7 : your P has the choice between and . When he sees dummy, he will hopefully play TR!