Which Signal? by Ben Norton

Which Signal?

Defensive signaling can be very helpful. Used correctly the different types of signals can light the way for a defender, as long as both players are on the same wavelength. All partnerships should discuss their carding methods, but here are some basics that you will be using for this quiz, when signaling on partner’s opening lead:

- the lead of an Ace or Queen asks for attitude (high-low encourages)
- the lead of a King asks for count against suit contracts (high-low shows an even number)
- the lead of a King asks for count or unblock against No-trump contracts (high-low shows an even number and partner will unblock an honor if he has one)
- the lead of a Queen asks for attitude against No-trump contracts, and you could have the King

In this quiz you’ll only see your Spade holding on each deal, and you’ll either be leading against 3NT or 4♥. As South see if you can work out which signal you want from partner, then pick out the best honor to lead.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A K 3 2
♥
♦
♣

Q: 1 - Which Spade will you lead against 4♥?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
Pass	4♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♠A. You want your partner to give you an attitude signal. If you were just interested in giving partner a ruff, or seeing how many rounds of the suit would stand up, you would lead the King to ask partner to give count. However, here you’re also interested in whether partner has the Queen. If he does you might be able to cash three rounds of the suit when it splits 3-3-3 around the table. You wouldn’t be able to work that out if you lead the King, which will just collect a low card from partner, showing three. If partner has a doubleton and wants a ruff then he will encourage, so you haven’t lost anything by kicking off with the Ace.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 2
♥
♦
♣

Q: 2 - What about this time?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
Pass	4♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♠K. Now you have no interest in an attitude signal. You want to know how many of your winners will stand up, so you should lead the King to get a count signal from partner. If you lead the Ace partner will play low from any three-card or longer holding, and you will still be in the dark.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ K Q 10 2
♥
♦
♣

Q: 3 - 3NT this time…

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♠Q. The King is a strong lead against No-trumps, asking partner to unblock an honor if he has one. It would be a mistake to lead the King here, since you could just be giving away a trick when partner plays the Ace or Jack. Partner will give an attitude signal on the Queen, telling you whether he wants you to continue the suit or not. Leading a low one is too committal, and could easily give away a trick when partner has neither honor.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ K Q 10 9 2
♥
♦
♣

Q: 4 - What do you think?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1NT
Pass	3NT	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♠K. This time your Spades are much stronger, so you want partner to unblock his honor, paving the way for you to cash the suit. The trouble with leading the Queen here is that partner is expected to play low from J x. Then you wouldn’t know whether to continue the suit or not when declarer holds up the Ace. By leading the King you’ll know the layout of the suit at trick one.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K Q 10 2
♥
♦
♣

Q: 5 - What will you try against another 4♥?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
Pass	4♥	Pass	Pass
Pass

A: ♠K. You must lead the top of a sequence against a suit contract. It’s true that it still might be helpful to know whether partner wants you to continue the suit or not, but a count signal will suffice in most scenarios. If you lead the Queen from this holding it will make it too difficult for partner to read what’s going on, since against suit contracts there’s more of an emphasis on cashing quick tricks than against No-trump contracts, where you often need to establish tricks.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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