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Signalling

Requirements for a simple signalling system

With any signalling system, I should at a minumum, be able to:
  • Show attitude on partner's lead of a new suit, as well as on leading
  • show partner which suit to switch to when no more tricks are available in the current suit (switch signal)
  • show suit preference when discarding
  • optionally, show odd or even count for a suit (count signal)
It should also
  • Be clear. One card shows one signal
  • Be consistent. If a high card shows positive attitude, it should ALWAYS show positive attitude
  • Be easy to use. Save the brain space for more important things
  • Be consistent with lead cards. If a low card shows positive attitude, it should also show positive attitude on lead
  • Never leave you in the lurch because you don't have a suitable card to play

"Low encourage"

The simplest way to signal accurately is to use a system called Upside Down Count and Attitude (UDCA), also known as "Reverse Carding" or "Low Encourage". Here is how it works.
  • Attitude signals: When following "our" suit, a low card shows positive attitude, and a high card shows negative attitude
  • Count signals: When following declarer's suit, lo/hi shows ownership of an even number of cards, hi/lo shows odd
  • Switch signals: When no more tricks are available in a suit, a high card shows positive attitude for a "higher" suit, low for a "lower" suit
  • Suit preference: when discarding, a low card shows positive attitude for the suit that was discarded, high for negative attitude
  • Leads: leading a low card from a suit shows positive attitude for the suit (i.e. ownership of and honour or ruffability),  high shows negative attitude.

 

Discussion

  • How Low Encourage manifests itself in leads from doubletons and MDU
  • Why we need count
  • Why overleads are needed
  • What is our suit, which is declarer's
  • How to spot whether a card is high or low
  • More....