Calling the King — Puzzle X2

The Declarer has just taken a talon half and holds fifteen cards: I, X, XV, K♦, K♠, Q♠, C♥, J♣, 2♦, 3♥, 4♥, 8♠, 9♣, 10♣, 2♥. They propose discarding K♦, 2♥, and 9♣ to get back to twelve.

koenigrufen Puzzle #193

Is that discard legal?

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Answer

No. K♦ is a King, and Kings, like the Trull, may never be discarded, no matter how little they seem to help this particular hand. Swap it for a genuine spare: discard 2♥, 3♥, and 9♣ instead, three plain pips with no points and no partner-guarding duty. The Pagat (I) stays untouched too, as Trull always must. That returns the hand to twelve without breaking a single discard law.