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Detail specifications 62BZ - Level 1 ★

Lavinthal Signals

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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
1NT
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
K
Q
6
A
K
Q
3
Q
9
 6  
    
    
9
5
2
7
5
A
K
J
8
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
1NT
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
K
Q
6
K
3
2
K
Q
10
 6  
    
    
10
9
7
A
Q
7
5
9
8
4
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
1NT
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
K
Q
6
K
3
2
A
K
10
 6  
    
    
10
9
7
A
Q
7
5
9
8
7
Exercise 2819 Discard the 7♥ : your P has the choice between ♣ and ♦. When he sees dummy, he will hopefully play TR!
 
 
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