Signaling with Discards

As West or East, decide your discarding strategy on each hand.

1.	A 4 3		West	North	East	South
None vul	6 5					1 NT
	7 5 4		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	A J 10 8 6		Pass
J 10 6 5 2
A 9 3
Q 9 3 2
2		3 NT South

You lead the 5, dummy plays low, East the queen, and South wins the king.

Which suit would you like East to lead? 

Declarer wins the K and leads a club. Your discard? 

North wins the A then a club is led to East’s queen. Your discard? 

2.	A 4 3		West	North	East	South
None vul	6 5					1 NT
	7 5 4		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	A J 10 8 6		Pass
J 10 6 5 2
Q 9 3
A Q 9 8
2		3 NT South

You lead the 5, dummy plays low, East the nine, and South wins the king.

Which suit would you like East to lead? 

Declarer wins the K and leads a club. Your discard? 

North wins the A then a club is led to East’s queen. Your discard? 

Quit

Top Signaling with Discards

3.	K 6		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	K 5 3					1 NT
	Q 7 3		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	K 8 7 6 5		Pass
		J 9 8 5 3
		A 10 9 2
		A 8 2
3 NT South		2

West leads the 4, dummy plays low, you play the nine, and South wins the queen.

Which suit would you like West to lead? 

North wins the K then a club is led. Your discard? 

South wins the A then a third club is led to West’s queen. Your discard? 

4.	K 6		West	North	East	South
N-S vul	K 5 3					1 NT
	Q 7 3		Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	K 8 7 6 5		Pass
		A J 10 9
		10 9 7 2
		9 8 5 4
3 NT South		2

West leads the 4, dummy plays low, you play the nine, and South wins the queen.

Which suit would you like West to lead? 

North wins the K then a club is led. Your discard? 

South wins the A then a third club is led to West’s queen. Your discard? 

Quit

Top Signaling with Discards

5.	A Q 8 4		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	K 8 4 3					1
	J 10		Pass	3	Pass	4
	K 8 5		Pass	Pass	Pass
		2
		10 9 7 6
		K 7 6 2
4 South		A 7 6 2

West leads the Q and dummy plays low.

Which heart do you play at trick one? 

Declarer wins two rounds of trumps. Your discard? 

Declarer wins a third trump as West follows suit. Your discard? 

6.	A Q 8 4		West	North	East	South
E-W vul	K 8 4 3					1
	J 10		Pass	3	Pass	4
	K 8 5		Pass	Pass	Pass
		2
		9 6
		A 9 8 7 2
4 South		Q J 10 9 7

West leads the Q and dummy plays low.

Which heart do you play at trick one? 

Declarer wins two rounds of trumps. Your discard? 

Declarer wins a third trump as West follows suit. Your discard? 

Quit

Top Signaling with Discards

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek