Basic Defense

[ArtK78]

[hv=d=e&v=b&n=sq9xxxhqjdqxcqxxx&e=sxxhxxdjxxxckjxxx]266|200|Scoring: IMP

P - (1♠) - 2♠* - (3♠)

All Pass

 

* Michaels (no strength restrictions)[/hv]

 

Partner leads the ♦K and continues the ♦A.

 

(1) Playing standard signalling methods, which diamonds do you play at tricks one and two?

 

(2) Playing upside-down signalling methods, which diamonds do you play at tricks one and two?

[Sambolino]

i don't play udca, but talking about std i drop 3rd then 4th best to signal count + clubs

[han]

Does the king lead show or ask something special or does partner often lead the king from AK empty?

 

If we give attitude here then I play lowest for negative attitude, then second lowest to give suit preference for clubs. I do thin attitude could be relevant because if I have a doubleton and the spade king I would want a continuation.

[ArtK78]

The lead of the King promises the Ace or shortness (Rusinow leads) and nothing more. No length implications (other than the fact that the lead of the King followed by the Ace cannot be a doubleton).

 

I do play with one partner who leads his AK in one order with an odd number of cards in the suit and the other order with an even number of cards in the suit. I would have to check my notes to see which is which. But that does not apply in this case.

[pclayton]

Playing UDCA I play my 2nd highest, followed by my lowest (SP). I don't want to delude pard into thinking I can overruff dummy with the K, or getting a promotion with JTx.

 

Playing standard I play my lowest, followed by my 2nd lowest.

 

Unless I have shown length in diamonds, I find it a poor idea to show count here.

[skjaeran]

Playing UDCA I play my 2nd highest, followed by my lowest (SP). I don't want to delude pard into thinking I can overruff dummy with the K, or getting a promotion with JTx.

 

Playing standard I play my lowest, followed by my 2nd lowest.

 

Unless I have shown length in diamonds, I find it a poor idea to show count here.

Agree 100%.

[inquiry]

only give count here with a doubleton. If you signal even, partner will play you for two.

 

Problem is, different people use different rules. Some say KING ask for count, Ace attitude, others reverse that. I think here, you should signal attitude, and play high low (normal signals) only with doubleton and desire for third round. Maybe you have stiff king of spades, maybe you have (unlikely unless partner is void) J87 trumps. With three or more, signal STOP (discourage), whatever card you hold that does that.

 

Playing UDCA I might drop the JACK (partner clearly has hearts and spades) and if not, then surely my second highest. This is not a request for a heart. An attitude signal can not also show suit preference. Playing standard attitude, I would drop my lowest diamond. In both cases, with the diamond JACK still out, I think partner holding five diamonds will switch in case decalear has Jxx of diamonds and can set diamond up for heart pitch (should partner have heart king, or should I have heart king. He will try club now, and depending on carding, decide if to try hearts when he gets in with a diamond again.

[Lobowolf]

Playing UDCA I play my 2nd highest, followed by my lowest (SP). I don't want to delude pard into thinking I can overruff dummy with the K, or getting a promotion with JTx.

 

Playing standard I play my lowest, followed by my 2nd lowest.

 

Unless I have shown length in diamonds, I find it a poor idea to show count here.

Agree 100%.

Ditto.

[Sambolino]

so you're telling this is the situation "if i ask for attitude and it's obviously irrelevant, show even number of cards only if you're doubleton"?

[han]

No, if attitude is irrelevant you give count. But attitude is not irrelevant here because you might want a continuation. So you give attitude.

[Lobowolf]

so you're telling this is the situation "if i ask for attitude and it's obviously irrelevant, show even number of cards only if you're doubleton"?

Signalling with a doubleton so you can ruff the third round is often mischaracterized as a count signal. Unless you're specifically in a count situation, you don't play high (using standard signals) from a doubleton to show an even number; you play high to let partner know you want a continuation. If attitude is "obviously irrelevant," then you should show count. But be careful which situations you construe as "obviously irrelevant."