The Most Popular Illegal Convention

"An illegal convention that is widely used?" you ask.  "How could that be?"  For the answer, you need look no further than the everyday goings-on at Dante's Infernal.

Many partnerships have adopted specialized defensive carding methods such as "Odd-Even," which enable them to communicate suit-preference early with some latitude in their choice of plays.  There are, however, countless less sophisticated pairs who indicate suit-preference simply by a discard in the preferred suit, irrespective of the size of the card played.  At the table, a query of these defenders' carding methods invariably begets a response including the term "Standard"; yet it is not.

A Standard first discard denotes attitude — that is, a high card is encouraging and a low one is discouraging regarding the suit of the discard.  The fact that this non-standard method never is marked on the convention card renders it a private understanding, which is illegal; and explaining the method incorrectly also is illegal.

The irony of the situation is in the fact that this cherished method — being compelled to play a card in the desired suit — is heinously flawed.  Heaven knows where these players got the idea; it certainly wasn't from any worthwhile instructor or textbook.

Whereas many of the offenders have no illicit intent, neither have they ever demonstrated to me a willingness to make any adjustments or even acknowledge the impropriety of their actions; yet a correction is simple.  under "Defensive Carding", check the "Except" box, and enter something such as "first discard is in preferred suit".  Be prepared to explain the method accurately — that is, with no misguided reference to "Standard".

I estimate that more than half the players at Dante's Infernal employ this undisclosed and illegal method.  Are you one of them?