Thursday, May 06, 2004 4:38 AM

Hand Evaluation - Signaling ( Known Length )

PITBULLS:

Playing a disciplined simple raise style with the majors has a distinct defensive advantage . It brings in the concept of “known length” which is very handy for signaling. All simple raises playing this style show 3 trump and all jump or forcing raises show 4 or more. Same with minor jumps or inverted minors also showing 5 trump there are definite defensive advantages . When partners suit length is known from the bidding then suit preference comes into play . Tom and I like the middle card encouraging style of signaling when following suit in these known length situations. . High & low cards are suit preference , high for higher ranking suit and low for lower ranking suit. A middle card is straight lets continue the suit as a switch might be a disaster looking at my hand. This is the beauty of the method of signaling. A middle card does not necessarily mean to continue it just means I do not have a suit preference and a switch might be a disaster from my hand. You know my suit length from the bidding so switch to a trump or continue if appropriate. Even with 3 cards after a simple raise since with our style we are known to hold 3 then suit preference applies. Known length concepts usually means in the partnership’s bid suit. The opponents bid suit or non bid suits , normal partnership signal agreements apply. Not so in our partnership known length suit.

What are some other known count situations ? when partner opens a weak two or pre-empts or overcalls there is a known count situation from the bidders side. When a singleton appears on the board and partner is winning the trick , this is an automatic known count situation.

Some examples:

		♠ AQ32
		♥ 965
		♦ J1094
		♣ QJ
♠ K7				♠ 96
♥ AK842				♥ J1073
♦ K862				♦ A3
♣ 106				♣ 98543
		♠ J10854
		♥ Q
		♦ Q75
		♣ AK72
WEST	NORTH		EAST	SOUTH
1♥	PASS		3♥	PASS
PASS	DBLE		PASS	3♠
PASS	4♠		ALL PASS

When you lead the ♥A, partner plays the ♥10. First of all, you know that partner has four hearts and that a continuation is pointless. Secondly, since East's heart length is known, she can use her hearts for suit preference signals. The ♥10 ( high ) asks for a shift to the higher suit (diamonds). Accordingly you shift to the ♦2, partner takes the ♦A, returns a diamond to your ♦K and you give her a ruff, which is the only way to set the contract.

		♠ A4
		♥ Q9852
		♦ Q63
		♣ 984
♠ 632
♥ 74
♦ AKJ5
♣ KJ42
WEST	NORTH		EAST	SOUTH
1♦	PASS		3♦	DBLE
4♦	4♥		5♦	5♥
ALL PASS

After a Law Raise auction (3♦ guarantees five diamonds), you lead the ♦A, partner contributing the ♦2. How do you continue?

	♠ A4
	♥ Q9852
	♦ Q63
	♣ 984
♠ 632		♠ K1087
♥ 74		♥ 6
♦ AKJ5		♦ 109762
♣ KJ42		♣ QT7
	♠ QJ95
	♥ AKJ103
	♦ 3
	♣ A95

Since partner is known to have five diamonds, her ♦2 ( low ) asks for a shift to clubs. This is the only shift that beats 5♥. A spade shift loses tempo. Declarer can cash the ♠A, draw trumps in two rounds and a low spade towards her ♠ QJ9 allows her to discard two clubs from dummy. Say we had nothing in clubs also . A middle card will be played to say neither suit is worth switching to . You know I have 5 diamonds so a continuation is silly.

If you have overcalled , opened a 5 card major or pre-empted these are more known length situations when obvious. Middle cards are encouraging attitude and high & lo cards are suit preference .

Roman discards follow the same suit preference idea . An odd card means partner likes the suit , the even cards are suit preference for higher and lower ranking suit . However there are times like in a 6 NT slam or a doubled contract where from the bidding you cannot possibly hold anything you should discard to show count . An effective way of showing count when discarding is play an high odd spot card when you have an original odd number of cards and a low spot card if you have an original even number of cards. This prevents pseudo squeezes so may allow partner to get a complete count of the hand.

You are defending 3♦ doubled with this beautiful collection ♠8654 ♥6532 ♦7 ♣J543 with the board being ♠KQxx ♥J10987 ♦x ♣xxx Partner leads a trump , declarer wins it in his hand and leads a spade . Partner plays low so you show 4 spades by playing your 4 . Declarer leads a diamond so what do you discard ? Discard the heart deuce to show an even number of hearts giving partner an instant count. When partner gets in with the spade Ace he knows the complete count of declarers hand thanks to your heart count. If you cannot hold anything on the auction , your discard can not be suit preference ( nothing left ) therefore Roman discards revert to upside down count . He exits a heart to declarers stiff Ace ( partner had 3 hearts ) so the contract is defeated. A disastrous club switch gives declarer the contract.

There are many methods to show count by discarding . Discarding the card you would have led back if you had the opportunity shows count. Some people play upside down count or discard a high card to show an original odd number of cards and low card to show an original even number of cards. The Roman style like the above works also . Just keep it consistent so as not to tax the memory.

In 6 NT the count is invaluable by a weak hand to prevent a pseudo squeeze. A discard to show count instead of attitude or suit preference could be vital to the defense. Top players play signals in “layers”. This mean the signal is dependent on what round the suit is played. First round the suit discarded is attitude , the 2^nd round count and the third round attitude. If you may have some values, attitude takes precedence over count and suit preference when discarding . Signaling is a “depending on context” situation. Partner has to “read” the situation correctly. Count shows original count not present count with some partnerships.

The order of following suit can be suit preference , when count is not important when declarer runs a side suit. (Smith echo theory )