Signaling Jim Berglund

Signaling Recommendations 1. Lead high from a doubleton, a singleton, or a sequence 2. With three or more: Lead low from a top honor (A, K or Q) Lead middle-up-down (MUD) with any other three cards Lead your second high card from any other holding (similar to MUD) If your partner opens a suit and you don’t raise. Or if your partner opens a suit and you offer a raise. Or if your partner overcalls a suit and you offer a raise. Or if your partner overcalls a suit and you don’t raise.

Recommendations 1. Show Attitude If your partner leads an Ace Encourage if you want partner to continue the suit (if you have Qxx or may be able to ruff) Discourage if you want partner to switch 2. If there is a singleton on the board, show suit preference A high card asks for the higher of the other suits A low card asks for the lower of the other suits If your partner leads an Ace 2A. If you want partner to continue, make a ‘rediculous’ preference, if possibe

Recommendations Always show count If your partner leads a King A: Standard signals – small is even, high is odd B: Upside-down signals - small is odd, high is even

Recommendations Against NT or Suit Contracts, Show COUNT If your partner leads a low card and you can’t beat the card from the board Against NT or Suit Contracts, Show COUNT A: Standard signals – small is even, high is odd B: Upside-down signals - small is odd, high is even

Recommendations If your partner leads a high card (likely from a sequence) and you can’t beat the card from the board Against NT or Suit Contracts, Show COUNT A: Standard signals – small is even, high is odd B: Upside-down signals - small is odd, high is even

Recommendations Show suit preference Show suit preference When the Opponent leads a high card you can’t beat or don’t want to Show suit preference When the Opponent leads a low card towards the board’s card that you can’t beat or don’t want to… Show suit preference

Signaling Test 1 Your partner has Opened 1♥ and the Opponents have won the contract at 3♠ a. You hold ♠654 ♥876 ♦8765 ♣AQ8 - what is your lead? b. Your partner leads the A♥ - what do you play? c. Your partner leads the K♥  -  what do you play? d. Your partner leads the Q♥, and it is won by your RHO with the King. - what do you play?   Top of the sequence Show attitude (discourage) Show Count Show suit preference

Signaling Test 2   Your partner has Overcalled 1♥ and the Opponents have won the contract at 3 NT a. You hold ♠654 ♥876 ♦8765 ♣AQ8 - what is your lead? b. Your partner leads the A♥ - what do you play? c. Your partner leads the K♥ -  what do you play? d. Your partner leads the Q♥, and it is won by your RHO with the King. 8♥ top of sequence Encourage Show Count 6♥ suit preference

Signaling Test 3 3. Your partner has Opened 1♥ and you raised to 2♥. the Opponents have won the contract at 3♠ a. You hold ♠654 ♥Q876 ♦876 ♣AQ8 - what is your lead? b. Your partner leads the A♥ - what do you play? c. Your partner leads the K♥ -  what do you play? d. Your partner leads the J♥ and it is won by your RHO with the King. - what do you play? The 6 (low from an honor) Show attitude (encourage) Show Count

Signaling Test 4 Your partner has Opened 1♥ and you raised to 2♥. the Opponents have won the contract at 3 Spades. a. You hold ♠654 ♥8762 ♦876 ♣AQ8 - what is your lead? b. Your partner leads the A♥ - what do you play? c. Your partner leads the K♥ -  what do you play? d. Your partner leads the Q♥ and it is won by your RHO with the King. What do you play?   Did your partner know what you were doing? Did you know what your partner was doing? The 8 (TOS) Show attitude (discourage) Show Count

In General, then Show attitude on the opening lead if partner leads an Ace When the Opponent leads a suit that you can’t beat or don’t want to… Show suit preference 1. In all other instances, Show Count