A correspondent asked me for a ruling and I need a poll




(1): better minor
(2): two-suiter in the other suits, at least 5-5
(3): preemptive
(4): suggestion to play there, good 5-card or 6-card

National team championship, NS established partnership

1. What do you lead?
2. What else do you consider to lead?
3. What do you not lead at all?



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Another case below
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(1): better minor
(2): minors, at least 5-5
(3): preemptive
(4): Cuebid, single or chicane

National team championship, NS established partnership

4. What do you lead?
5. What else do you consider to lead?
6. What do you not lead at all?

Dear David,

Played in the Herefordshire Mixed Pairs on Friday and would like your advice on a Director ruling.

Hand Details

North: - J 9 7 3 2, A 9 5 4, 8 7 5, 6 2
East: - A 5 4, Q 8 7, A 7 6 3, A 9 3
South: - K Q 8, 10 6 3, Q 10 9 8 2, 10 2
West: - 10 6, K J 2, K J 5, K Q J 7 5

Dealer West.

Playing 5-card majors with no bidding from N/S, E/W reached 3NT to be played by West.

North led 3S and N/S won two rounds and the 3rd was won by AS in East.
On the 3rd round of clubs, South discarded 10D and West enquired what did this indicate. North advised South was encouraging hearts.
After winning 5 rounds of clubs, West played a round of hearts and North appeared with the Ace, cashed two spades and the contract was one down.

South now admitted that West had been misinformed and that N/S were playing McKinney discards and his 10D was asking for a diamond lead, it being an honour encouraging. West requested the Director and claimed possible damage as with a correct description of the discard system, he would have taken the winning diamond finesse and in so doing make his contract.

At the end of the evening, after discussion, the Director ruled that the result should stand as in discarding, players have the right to false discard and declarer should have made his play considering this. I'm finding this a little confusing as given a correct description of the discard system, and if South makes a false discard good luck to him, but I believe declarer is entitled to a clear desciption of the discard system. If he then gets it wrong then that is fair game. How do you view this one?

Many Thanks,

Peter Watts