Tuesday, August 31, 2004 2:04 AM
Hand Evaluation – Leads ( Reverse
Smith Echos )
PITBULLS:
The primary signal in the
game of Bridge is attitude. There is a way of signaling both count & attitude after the opening lead in NT. This is
done via Smith echos in declarer’s suit after you
have initially shown count in
response to partner’s opening lead.
Reverse Smith Echos (vrs NT only )
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.
One
of the most obvious side effects of playing Smith echoes is that you do not
need to signal attitude anymore when the dummy wins the trick. Attitude
is shown via the reverse Smith echo when declarer attacks her suit. You just show count now so no need for
Foster echoes or confusion over attitude vrs count.
Your initial signal in all NT contracts is simply count. Partner
leads an interior sequence card & dummy
plays low , attitude or count ? You show count
as attitude will be shown later when declarer attacks her suit. Same
understanding when opening leader leads a top of sequence ( QJ10xx
) , you show count & attitude later when declarer does her thing. Different
understanding with an Ace or King
lead , though. With the Ace lead you show attitude for the queen & with the
king you show attitude for the jack. You do not want partner to get “couped” on
these leads so attitude first.
With
Reverse Smith echoes, opening leads & attitude 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 so declarer is not false carding. You
must train yourself that 2 steps are involved with opening
leads & partner must help you out with attitude
. The hardest point to remember is you do not give count
when declarer initially attacks or runs his suit. These cards are
reserved for
Smith Echos ( attitude for
partner’s lead ) .
You
make a lead against 3NT , declarer wins the trick so
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 played by declarer. If partner 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. If
she does not like your lead , suit preference is built
in with subsequent cards so holding up will allow you to find the switch.
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
& lead your 4th best spade against 3NT. Declarer wins
the spade so 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 , 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,
he lead 4th best heart.
The dummy hit with ♠ xxx ♥ Kx ♦J1098xxx
♣ x
& Lisa held
♠ xxx ♥ xxxx ♦A
♣J1087x
Stan lead 4th best heart , declarer wins the heart king but
plays the heart queen under it. Declarer leads a diamond ,
Lisa wins the diamond Ace & Stan throws the queen !! 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 so 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 so +200
instead of –690 !
Smith echoes are legalized cheating !!! They need practice to get the
hang of it though , 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 !!