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Lavinthal Discards in Bridge
Some partnerships agree in advance to assign special meaning to the first discard. Lavinthal discards are used on defender’s first discard. A high card is shows preference for the higher ranking of the two outstanding suits, whereas a low ranked card shows preference for the other lower ranked suit.
What’s the Lavinthal Discard System ?
Lavinthal Discard System
With this agreement, the first discard you make shows your suit preference.
You do not like the suit led and you do not like the discarded suit.
Your signal tells partner which of the two outstanding suits you prefer.
A high card signals your interest in the higher ranking of the remaining suits – a low card for the lower ranking suit. This is known as Lavinthal in the US, or as McKenney in the UK.
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Today’s Hand of the Day
Bidding and Playing Slams 1/7
When 4C is not Gerber and Jump Shift bids
Bidding
Using the Rule of Twenty you can open this hand 10 points + 6 clubs + 6 diamonds = 22: An opening hand – 1D
West overcalls 1S
North makes a Jump Shift bid 3H showing 16+ points and a five(or plus) Heart suit
East bids 3S – THIS IS GETTING REALLY ANNOYING from the opposition
Show your six card club suit and bid it at the lowest level – 4C (if you were Ace asking for a suit contract you should bid 4NT)…PLAY NOW
Disadvantages of Lavinthal
The potential disadvantage of this method is that you always have to give preference for one suit or other, and you may not want any suit in particular. Partner has to intuit from cards in their hand, in dummy and already played if your signal is legitimate.
