Tuesday,
August 31, 2004 2:04 AM
Hand
Evaluation - Reverse Smith Echos
PITBULLS:
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
or following suit to an honour lead. 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 signal
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. When 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 !
Good players playing upside signals have an understanding to
distinguish showing 3 cards vrs 5 cards & 2 card vrs 4 cards. Playing the lowest spot possible shows 2 cards . Playing the 2nd lowest possible &
then up shows 4 of the suit. Same understanding with 3 or 5
of a suit. With 3 , play the middle card &
then down. With 5 cards you have a luxury due the sheer number of spots you hold . When you play a very high spot ,
the odds dictate that you are showing 5 of them . Mike Yuen in the seniors teams’ showed how this works dramatically well.
Maurice lead a heart honour . Since they play Smith echos , they must show count
so Mike played a very high heart spot. This must show 5 of them
! You do not show attitude with Smith echos as
that is absurd. The reason for Smoth echos is so you can give count initially & attitude
later. In other words , have your cake & eat it
too. A heart continuation beats the contract.
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 !!