Tuesday, August 31, 2004 2:04 AM
Reverse Smith Echos
PITBULLS:
Reverse Smith Echos
If we make an unencouraging REVERSE
SMITH ECHO (high-low), then we are
emphatically telling partner to switch
when he gets in. Suit preference
is built into this. Playing the
remaining cards out of order
shows the rank of the suit we want.
If we make an encouraging REVERSE SMITH ECHO (low-high),
then either we want partner to continue or we
do not know what is right. Encouraging may
just mean we do not
have a suit preference for a switch and not that we like partners lead. Very important.
With Reverse Smith echoes, opening leads are now
a two step process. Step 1 you
make your lead Axxxx . Step 2 you see the results of your lead by watching
partners first card when declarer
runs or attacks his suits. If you see a low spot card from
partner , your lead was appreciated.
Partner had QJx when he played the
jack at trick one and declarer is not false
carding. You must train yourself that 2 steps are involved with opening leads and
partner must help you out. You do not give count when declarer initially attacks or runs
his suit. These cards are for Smith Echos.
You
make a lead against 3NT and declarer wins the trick and immediately attacks his
long suit in which you have the Ace. There are many entries to the board or
declarers hand so there is no technical reason to hold up. Or is there ? Playing Smith echos ( reverse ) you must hold up to the 2ND round to
see what cards partner has played. He is giving you information on whether he liked your lead or not. Before Smith
echoes, a common technique was to hold up until partner shows out so he can
signal you by discarding. With Smith echoes you know if he likes your lead by
the 2nd round of declarers suit.
If he plays the deuce or 3 of declarer’ suit , you know he likes your lead by
the first round !! This prevents
declarer stealing his contract if he has enough tricks due to you ducking until
the 3rd round.
In a 3NT contract , declarer always seems to lead or attack his suit after winning your
lead. Do not forget your obligation with a
Smith echo. It is very handy. Also do not forget that you can Smith
echo on your behalf (
your lead ). If you struck out with your opening lead , inform
partner of that fact with a Smith Echo . You hold xxxxx x AQJ10 97x and
lead your 4th best spade against 3NT. Declarer wins the spade and
you realize there is no future in spades . Do not forget that a discouraging Smith
echo is an automatic
suit preference. Declarer starts running his clubs so you play
your club 9 . This is a signal to
partner that you do not like your own lead.
You now play the 2 of clubs and when
he plays another club you play your 7.
Why are you playing your clubs in that order ? This is the suit preference element of Smith echoes.
You are telling partner that you have diamonds the lower ranking of the two
unplayed suits. The 9 of clubs
followed by the 7 is asking for a heart switch.
What if your lead hits declarers suit ? Of course suit preference comes into play
immediately. An encouraging signal
low just means partner has no suit preference.
A high card means that a suit preference is coming with the next card. Suit
preference and discouraging Smith echoes go hand in hand.
You have 973 of the suit. The 9 first means that a suit
preference is coming. 7 next means the higher ranking suit and the deuce the
lower ranking suit.
Stan Cabay came up with
another example of a reverse Smith echo signal in defending 3NT. His hand was
Q10 Jxxxx Qx AQ9x and he lead 4th
best heart. The dummy hit with ♠ xxx ♥ Kx ♦J1098xxx ♣
x and Lisa held
♠ xxx ♥ xxxx ♦A ♣J1087x Stan lead 4th best heart and declarer wins
the heart king and plays the heart queen under it. Declarer leads a diamond and
Lisa wins the diamond Ace and Stan throws the queen under it . Do they have a 7-4
diamond fit or is Stan applying a Smith echo signal ? The diamond queen should
mean one thing at that is the diamonds are ready to roll. Counting tricks this
means 6 diamonds for declarer , 2 hearts and just one spade would bring the
contract home. The diamond queen if interpreted as a reverse Smith echo should
mean that a desperate switch is required to beat the contract. Accordingly the
club jack is played and +200 instead of –690 !
Smith echoes are legalized cheating !!! They need practice to get the hang of
it though and of course partner must be awake
enough to watch the spot cards. Stan Cabay says he does not know how
he ever defended correctly before Smith echos !!