GENERAL RULES OF DEFENSIVE SIGNALS

 

 

 �?When following to a suit or when discarding in a suit, the relative height

     of a card is used to send signals.

 

 �?Signals are usually given with cards from two to nine.

 

 �?A signal can be fully interpreted from the bidding, from the cards seen

     on the dummy and from the cards held in your hand.

 

 �?It is sometimes necessary to wait until partner plays to the second round

     in a suit to fully understand a signal.

 

 �?It is not always appropriate to signal, especially with a strong defensive hand.

 

 �?It is not mandatory to follow your partner's signals when not suitable

     given the context of a hand.

 

 �?It is usually profitable to signal as much as possible against less experienced players.

 

 �?It is recommended to always signal on the opening lead.
 

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ATTITUDE SIGNAL

  

The attitude signal indicates the level of interest toward the suit in which the signal is given. Common practice are positive and negative attitude signals.

 �?A relatively high card shows positive attitude toward the suit being led, or

 �?A relatively high card shows negative attitude toward the suit being led,

 �?An echo is a positive attitude signal consisting in a high card followed

    as soon as possible with a lower card.
 

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COUNT SIGNAL

 

 

The count signal is used to show the number of cards held in a suit being led.

 �?A relatively high card shows an even number of cards in a suit being led,

 �?A relatively low card shows an odd number of cards in a suit being led.

Count is given by playing high-low from two cards, low from three or five cards and second-high followed with third-high from four cards.

 

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PREFERENCE SIGNAL

 

 

The preference signal is used to show a preference for one of the two suits outside the trump suit and the suit being led.

 �?A relatively high card shows a preference for the higher-ranking suit

     outside the trump suit and the suit being led,

 �?A relatively low card shows a preference for the lower-ranking suit

     outside the trump suit and the suit being led.
 

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PRECEDENCE WHEN SIGNALING

 

 

a) When following to a suit led by your partner:

 �?signal attitude with your first card,

 �?signal preference with your second card.

 

b) When following to a suit led by the declarer:

 �?signal count with your first card,

 �?signal preference with your second card.

 

c) When discarding in an suit not led yet:

 �?signal attitude with your first card,

 �?signal present count with your second card.

 

d) When discarding in a suit already led:

 �?signal present count.
 

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ROMAN DISCARDS (ODD/EVEN)

 

 

a) An odd discard encourages continuation of a suit being led.

 

b) An even discard discourages continuation of a suit being led.

 

c) A relatively high even card suggests a shift to the higher-ranking suit

     other than the trump suit,

 

d) A relatively low even card suggests a shift to the lower-ranking suit

     other than the trump suit.

 

Advantages:

When wishing continuation of a suit but lacking an odd card to encourage, trying to give a preference signal would look inconsistent.
 

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LAVINTHAL DISCARDS

 

 

a) A relatively low card shows a preference for the suit ranking immediately

     below the suit being discarded (clubs ask for spades),

 

b) A relatively high card shows a preference for the suit ranking immediately

     above the suit being discarded (spades ask for clubs).

 

Advantages:

 �?Allows suggesting a shift to a given suit from two other suits,

 �?Avoids wasting a high card in a suit you wish your partner to shift,

 �?Reduces the possibility of false carding by declarer.
 

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REVERSE SIGNALS (UDCA)

 

 

a) A relatively low card encourages the continuation of a suit being led

 

b) A relatively high card discourages the continuation of a suit being led

 

Advantages:

 �?Avoids wasting a high card to signal positive attitude in a suit,

 �?reduces the possibility of false carding by declarer.
 

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RUSINOW LEADS (JOURNALIST LEADS)

 

 

Lead the second higher-ranking honor from a sequence of two or more honors. Applies only against suit contracts in suits not declared by your partner during the auction. Leads other than the opening lead are standard.

 

Advantages:

 �?Reduces the ambiguity of leads from ace-king or king-queen.
 

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MUD LEADS

 

 

MUD means Middle-Up-Down (when leading from xx x). MUD leads do not apply to suits declared by your partner during the auction.
 

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JOURNALIST (LEAD OF AN HONOR AGAINST NOTRUMP)

 

 

Each lead of an honor has a special meaning:

 �?the lead of a jack denies a higher-ranking honor,

 �?the lead of a ten promises the ace, the king or the queen,

 �?the lead of a nine promises the ten or no higher-ranking honor or

     a doubleton (lead the eight from 987),

 �?the lead of an ace shows AKJxx or AKQ10x or AK109x,

 �?the lead of a king shows AK or KQ,

 �?the lead of a queen shows QJ10 or KQ109 and requests unblocking the jack when held.

Advantages:

Journalist leads eliminate the ambiguity of leading from the top of inner sequences (lead of the jack from KJ109).
 

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CODED NINES AND TENS

 

 

Coded nines and tens leads are used against notrump contracts.

 

 �?The lead of a ten promises the jack plus another non-consecutive

     higher-ranking honor or shows top of a sequence without a higher-ranking honor,

 �?The lead of a nine promises the ten plus another non-consecutive

     higher-ranking honor or shows top of a sequence without a higher-ranking honor