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Chap. 8 PLAYING CONVENTIONS

Carding ***

Third from Even, Low from Odd. ***
Zero or Two Higher. ***

Signals ***

Upside Down for Count and Attitude. ***
Odd-Even Discards. ***
Smith Echo. ***

CARDING

1) Carding is standard.

2) The priority for signaling in both suit and NT contracts is Attitude first, then Count, and Suit Preference when obvious.

3) Lead A from AK (trick one only) against suit contracts, except:

a) Lead the K if the contract is at the 5 level or higher.

b) Lead K if you are leading partner’s suit.

c) Lead K if you are leading your suit and partner has supported it.

d) Often the best opening lead against a Gambling 3NT is an Ace, in order to see if dummy or partner’s signal can indicate the best defense. This does not promise the King.

4) Lead of the Ace against NT asks partner to play his highest honor if he has one. Otherwise, give count.

5) Against a NT contract, lead fourth best in a suit that you want returned, otherwise lead a high middle card from 4 or 5 small. Against a suit contract, lead low from 3 or 4 small.

6) Lead the Queen from K Q 10 9 (x) against NoTrump. This allows partner to unblock with the Jack

7) Lead low from 3 small in partner’s suit if you have not supported it, otherwise lead low only if you have an honor.

Optional Lead Conventions

Third from Even, Low from Odd.

This is only used against trump contracts. Lead the third best from an even number of cards, and the lowest card otherwise. This is used primarily on the opening lead. It may be used later in the play, but the meaning may not be unambiguous. (Top of Nothing, or low from strength, may also be used - probably most often.)

Zero or Two Higher.

Lead the third highest card from interior sequences - the 10 from K J 10 x x, for example. This tells partner that you either have two cards or no cards higher than the card led. Can be used in both Trump and NoTrump contracts. Exception: Do not lead the J from A Q J x (x) in a Trump contract.

Signals

Upside Down for Count and Attitude.

A low card is encouraging, or shows an even number of cards - used when following suit.


Odd-Even Discards.

Used when discarding, an odd card encourages the suit. An even card discourages the suit, and may be a suit preference.


Smith Echo


The Smith Echo is used against NoTrump contracts to determine whether the suit led by the opening leader should be continued when the defenders get the lead back. The signal is used by either defender, and it is given by the discard on the first suit led by declarer. A high discard says to continue the opening leader's suit and a low discard says that continuing the suit is dangerous. The signal by third hand usually indicates whether he has any remaining strength in opener's suit, and by the opening leader to indicate whether or not he wants the suit continued. Obviously, it is critically important (and perhaps difficult) to make that determination - but who says that defense is easy?

For a clear treatment of this convention, read Root's discussion in "How to Defend a Bridge Hand". For a more expert treatment, read Robinson's discussion in "Washington Standard". The example hands in both books show why this convention is necessary.