,
aniel .ahneman, an ,sraeli merican psy chologist and economist, said, , ha e always em phasi ed the willingness to discard.
,n bridge, you often ha e no choice but to discard. owe er, when on defense, you should use the opportunity to transmit useful information to partner. ,f you discard from a suit that neither side has yet led, it is an attitude signal, saying whether or not you would like partner to shift to that suit. ,f you pitch from a suit already led by either side, it is probably a count signal, but might be suit preference if count is known or clearly unnecessary.
irst, though, in today s deal, West is on lead against four spades. Which card should he choose
West made a three club weak ump o er call. hen, orth bid one le el higher than he would ha e done if West had passed. o, three spades would ha e shown a respectable single raise, four spades would ha e promised game in itational alues, and the chosen four club cue bid indicated game forcing strength.
West leads his singleton. East takes the first trick with the heart ack and continues with the heart ace. What should West discard
outh, for his opening bid, has to ha e the spade ace king and diamond ace. o, West should hope for three heart winners and a trump trick. e should discard first the diamond nine, followed by the diamond two high low with his doubleton. hen East can lead a diamond for West to ruff and defeat the contract.
ote that if East plays another heart at trick four, hoping for a trump promotion, declarer ruffs high and cruises home.