BRIDGE NOTES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21324, 17 November 1934, Page 9

BRIDGE NOTES

"DISCARDING" (SrBCUI.I.T WIITTJK »0* THi r»»5».) |By WILLIAM SHACKLE.] ■ The first signal one can give at bridge is by means of the bid, the second by the lead, and the third by the play of certain cards. Among the third grcup the first discard can be used to considerable advantage, provided that one has an observant partner, which is all important. There are two messages which can be sent by the first discard, the one "I am weak in the suit discarded" and the other "please lead the suit from which my discard is made." The second message should always be construed as a direct invitation, while the first is purely negative in character. Though negative, however, this discard may mean a direct request for a lead of a specific suit, if played late in the hand, j For instance, knowing partner to hold only two suits, and seeing a discard of a low card, the other suit should be led up to him when the opportunity arises. During play it frequently happens that one wishes partner to lead a particular suit. Perhaps, for example, one is sitting over dummy with a major tenace against his minor tenace, an A Q over his king or even Q over Jack. To draw partner's attention to one's need, the recognised method is to drop the nighest card one can spare in the suit wanted to be led, as one's first discard. This card should be not less than a seven. If the opportunity arises for a second discard one plays a low card of the same suit, and this should serve to remind partner, as it emphasises one's need. Likewise, if one has played a low card as an initial discard, one should play another higher card from the same suit for the secend discard as this further denies that particular suit. Sometimes, of course, one cannot afford to discard a high card, for example, holding K J 4 2 over Q x x. In this case one should satisfy oneself by logical reasoning if there will be r.n opportunity to make a second discard. If one decides that one will

t*et a further discard then discard the lour initially and then play the two on the next round. If on the ther hand one does not think it probable that one will get a second discard, play a low card from another suit as one's first discard. . Playing against a no trump declaration the position is sometimes a little different, for one's long, suit may. not be one's strong suit. Generally, therefore, it is good policy to discard from a weak suit, rather than shorten one's long suit by playing an invitation card to partner. Even if one; has two high cards in another suit one does not wish partner to lead that suit; rather wait till one's long suit is established and then use these high cards as cards of re-entry. :. The exception is when one realises that declarer may make game or contract unless one makes a particular trick. Then, of course, so discard as to advise partner to lead that suit; as it is in such cases all important to defeat the contract or to avoid game being made. Even should one seem to lose a further' possible trick by such play, it is still the correct play, as the risk is out of proportion to the likely gain.