Maybe the question should be  when is it right to give count and  when  attitude?

Gipp here is an attempt.

 

There are 3 basic signals that go in preference order attidute then count then suit preference.

 

The most common method is that when your partner leads a high honor (A unsupported or K from AK) from a suit you give attitude with the first card, count (or present count - ie the count of what's left) with the second card in the same suit and suit preference where (rarely) possible with the third card.

 

When the opps are running a suit then there's no need to signal your attitude so you give count with the first card and suit preference with the second card (this can be quite useful when you have an odd number of small cards - but you can only signal a higher suit preference because low - low or no preference).

 

A common variation to this method is that king asks count and ace asks for attitude.

That way the person on the lead determines what signal they want when they are leading a high honor.

 

So with a holdling like AKQx in a side suit where the leader wants to know how many tricks they can safely cash they might lead king asking for count. But from a suit like Axx against 5 minor where they have avoided 3 nt because the bidding indicates a lack of a stopper in this suit you want an attitude signal.

 

There's a lot more to these 'simple' methods....

 

 

 

may i make a suggestion[author recommended by IRDOZ]:

easley blackwood 2 books that should help answer many questions

1.his book on leads

2.play of the hand

both of these books are written in a style by one of the best writters,ive have the priviledge to read on bridge.

BTW,thank you "ross" for bringing him to my attention!

Warning!!  This si a thread Buster.

There was a joke I heard while in college.

This student went to the counsellor with a disnal 4"d'"s and a "c".(Ross , here in this most powerful, most richest and most arrogant country of ours we use (A,B C D; as grading, just in case)...Anyway , the counsellor asked .

 "What's the Problem , fellow"..

"Oh",  said the student , "I was concentrating too much on one subject"

Now to my point

Spade, can you tell me which book you read and reread so often  so as to ignore the rest of your librarry? 

 

"morgann" at least i read,whats your excuse?