|
Obvious
Suit Preference Signal - In situations when normal signals have
no useful value, clearly the defenders should use an alternative signaling method.
The
prerequisites for obvious suit preference signals are:
|
1. |
When partner is anticipated
to win the suit led and upon analysis of the rank
(high/low magnitude) of the leader's card, a high/low suit switch
is likely to allow leader to win tricks by ruffing, onside finesses,
etc. |
|
2. |
Never the suit led |
|
3. |
Always in side suits, never
trump |
|
4. |
Never a long side suit bid
by declarer |
|
5. |
Never a significant side
suit disclosed by declarer during bidding, except in Notrump contracts
when the defense is found to have a longer aggregate suit (7+ cards)
|
Circumstances
where attitude or count signals are valueless in a suit include:
|
1. |
After opening lead, the
dummy is found to either immediately control the suit or will control
the suit after the first trick. Examples of subsequent trick
control includes singletons, K x when Ace is led, and top honor
sequences as K Q J x.
Of course one exception is
when declarer is in a trump contracts where dummy has a long suit and
defense has an opportunity to ruff the suit |
|
2. |
When a normal suit
preference signal points to side suit controlled by Dummy, either by
shortage or top honor sequences as K Q J or Q J 10 [x] |
|
3. |
Declarer has or is
anticipated to pitch on the suit led (losers on losers) |
Considerations for correct obvious suit preference suit:
|
1. |
Defender leads or plays a
high/low ranking card asking for high/low suit switch |
|
2. |
Potentially opening leader
or partner have bid the suit |
|
3. |
Often suits not bid by the
declarer or dummy |
|
4. |
Frequently the declarer's
weak 3+ card side suit in hand or dummy |
|
5. |
When the dummy exposes
weakness:
|
Dummy |
Partner Behind Dummy |
|
J x x
[x] |
A or K |
|
Q x x
[x] |
A or K |
|
K x x
[x] |
A or Q |
|
A x x
[x] |
K or Q |
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Lastly, a
not-so-obvious suit preference switch signal may be called for when partner
plays an artificially and unexpectedly high ranking card on the suit led.
Example:
West
begins with the DA and the defenders are disappointed to see dummy
comes down with a singleton. East's 4D preemptive raise shows
good Diamond support so West knows East can easily make a obvious suit
preference signal, low for a Club switch or high for a Heart switch.
Certainly a D9 or D7 by East will cause West to switch to a
Heart, particularly noting the dummy tenaces. However, if
East
unexpectedly plays the DQ, then West should pause and consider the
alternatives for an unlikely switch - in this case to the Spade, even though
dummy will eventually setup the Spades. West is also enthusiastic to
lead a Spade from a doubleton, hoping for a Spade
ruff to set the contract
after East cashes two Spades.
Also see
Details on signaling and books on
Leads
|
Q J 10 9
A Q 10 2
5
A 10 9 2