Discard a known card

[Kingstom]

Hi all,

I just want to check something.
Lately I had a discussion with a fellow player on the next subject.

In that game it happened twice that I had a card in hands which I was totally aware of which card it was.
First time it happende was R2, second time R4.
Both times I saw the double card (so R2 at first, R4 the second time) at the most left position of the players who is next to me.

So I decided to discard my card in order to let him play his most left card. (There were in his hand nog clued cards who could let to confusion).
Both times the next player actually played the card, but he started arguing that 'I could just play the card' (in a rather direct way of saying ).

Now my question: if I'm in a situation like that, I will almost every time discard. This way we get an extra clue AND the card gets played.
He/she said that I'm the only one who plays in this way.
I thought this was a rather common way of playing. Are there other players around here who use this tactic?

[shaun hoversten]

This is known as "gentlemen's discard" and MOST OF THE TIME, an appropriate play. It is a form of discard control (rather than letting them discard blind a potentially valuable card, such as the green 3, maybe the green 2 is about to be drawn), and as you said, you get the exact same token you would have gotten on the next players discard, except its a "safe discard".

There are some scenarios where this is not efficient (which is the purpose of doing it).

End game, most games you don't want to unnecessarily discard at the end of the game (last 5 - 6 cards or so)

If the player who has it on left has a clue they can give to next player, just play and let them clue.

If they have a critical/save card in the fourth spot. It is actually better to have a dead card (already played) following a save to prevent the need for a double save, which becomes even more critically important in the end game (have to double save rather than play a clued card).

But most of the time, it is a good play and all high level players I know use it when it makes sense.

[Travis Hall]

A gentleman’s discard is often a good play, but you shouldn’t just assume that it is. When the opportunity arises, think each time about whether you are helping or hindering your partners.

I see it used a lot in situations where it does nothing useful. If the very next player has the other copy of the card, but don’t need the token right now and have a clue to give, all you’ve done is delay either the play or the clue.

There are generally two times when this technique is useful: when your partners need a token earlier than they need the play, or when the other holder of the card has something useful that is protected by having them play from the left rather than discard from the right. (Keeping a useful card off chop is a form of protection, so don’t think this means only when their chop is useful.) If you are using layered finesses, you can do a layered gentleman’s discard too, leading to the play of at least one additional card with needing another clue.

Other times, you may just be communicating that your partner has a card worth protecting, when they really don’t. This can lead to poor strategic decisions from that player, as they avoid discarding in order to keep the non-existent useful card safe. So, save this technique for when it is actually useful.

[Romain672]

Just as a side note, if you wait to do your gentleman's discard and instead clue or play something else, and if your next player play or discard (so something not useful, else you should gd (gentleman's discard) it) ;
then you get a chance for him to draw another play, and next turn discard that card and get two plays instead of one from that move.

It's rarely available, but when it is, gaining free effeciency from that can be pretty powerful and change your decision earlier.