Leads and signals

[luis]

Hi all,

 

I want to know what are your preferred methods for leads and signals.

I'm looking for specific feedback on:

a) Coded 9's and T's (What format do you use if any?)

:) Smith Echo (Yes, no, when, why?)

c) Trump signals

d) Other interesting leads and signals you want to comment :-)

 

Hope this thread can be used as a good summary of modern defensive methods and comments or signals about them.

 

What about me?

I use:

 

3rd/5th vrs suit. With std count and attiitude. Our 1st priority is count.

Rusinow leads vrs suit. Special lead: A = asking for suit preference. (Generally with AK and a singleton somewhere).

2nd/4th vrs NT. We never lead 4th best without A, K or Q in the suit.

With Hxx we are leading the honor as an experiment against NT if that's the suit to be lead.

Journalist leads vrs NT.

No Smith echo.

Odd/Even discards all the time.

 

What is the best use for trump signals with expert but not regular pds?

Prism signals are nice but requiere pd to read a book :-)

Old-fashioned I want to ruff doesn't make sense. Does it?

Others?

 

Tks for your comments!

Luis

[inquiry]

1) Coded 9's and T's (What format do you use if any?)

 

Ten promises internal sequence... 9 promises the ten.

 

2) Smith Echo (Yes, no, when, why?)

 

Generally no, but if partner insist, yes. Why? I think it is mostly a crutch, I like to figure things out on my own from the bidding, the card lead, the dummy, and honest cards by partner. Seriously, it is an ok signal, I just generally don't use it.

 

 

3) Trump signals

I signal three trumps when I can ruff something, or when I think partner needs a trump count and there is reason to believe declearer may not play 3 rounds (something else he clearly needs to do).

 

 

4) Other interesting leads and signals you want to comment :-)

 

2/4th best leads that I have already commented on elsewhere. I give remaining count, not current count, and use UDCA carding and lavinthal discards, and second spot card plays.

 

Ben

[lenze]

Basicly, I've played the same for over 30 years

 

1) The lead of the T or 9 promises 0 or 2 higher, including the card above.(Exception is T from AQT9(XX)

 

2)I do play Smith echo with most partner's, but sometimes I forget

 

3)Like inquiry, I signal three trumps to show a desire to ruff or if I feel partner needs the count.

 

4)For the last several years, I have played CRACK discards. They seem to work very well for me and seldom lead to confusion.

 

I use 4th best leads,(although 3/5th may have merit, I'm too old to change)

 

My primary signal on opening lead is ATTITUDE, followed by count

 

The important thing in all of this is to have a FIRM understanding with your partner. I doubt that any approach has much theoretical value over another.

 

Anyway, this should be an interesting thread.

[Cave_Draco]

The most comprehensive treatment I have come across is Vinje, old now but, http://bridgeguys.com/VGlossary/VinjeSignals.html is a reasonable summary, if abbreviated, ;D.

[Codo]

Hi Luis,

 

I prefer:

 

2/4 attitude, so lead high from "worthless" holdings

Jack denies and Ten and 9 shows 0 or 2 higher.

 

For signals: I am an absolute fan from the Granovetters "Obvious shift principle" and the whole story behind it. When I played it with my former standard partner, I felt, the we "never" miss a defensive trick.

Now, I feal, that we are always one or more tricks short...

 

So no need for smith or another Peter, no special trump signals.

 

But as "nobody" else is playing it, I would like to have smith peter and italian discards.

 

Kind Regards

 

Roland

[luis]

Codo,

 

I played the "obvious shift" principle with many partners. I think is a slightly better treatment than standard attitude on the lead.

I wish I could buy the book by Granovetter.