Thursday, May 06, 2004 4:38 AM

Hand Evaluation - Known Length Signals

PITBULLS:

Years ago , Nick Gartaganis introduced all of us to “known length” signals. The idea behind this concept was if you had a good idea of the suit length from the bidding , signaling methods change. If partner pre-empts at the 3 level or two level or has opened or overcalled a 5 card major , we are quite aware of the length of the suit. Therefore , middle encourages or “don’t care” & hi & lo cards are suit preference. Instead of “known length signals” , we called them Gartaganis signals.

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 , 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 , suit preference comes into play . Experts 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 & 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 so 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.

What are some other known count situations ? When partner opens a weak two or pre-empts or overcalls there is a known count or length situation. When a singleton appears on the board , partner is winning the trick , this is an automatic known count situation ( suit preference ) . When somebody shows out of a suit than this is a “known length” situation that you can take advantage of the situation for suit preferences. If you have overcalled , opened a 5 card major or pre-empted these are more known length situations . Middle cards are attitude encouraging so high & lo cards are suit preference . When a singleton appears on the board , signaling reverts to the Gartaganis style.

Here are a couple of “known count” signaling situations in action. I opened a weak 2♥ with

♠xx ♥Q109872 ♦xxx ♣KJ10 and the opponents get to 4♠ . My partner leads the 6 of hearts , the dummy hits with

♠ Qxx

♥ AKJx

♦ J10x

♣ xxx

Declarer wins the heart , playa a 2^nd high heart and discards a club. What hearts have you played ? By opening a weak two , you are in a “known length” or “known count” situation therefore you have an obligation to partner. If you have no particular preference , you must play a middle heart to encourage in that suit. Failure to do so will throw partner off who is trying to glean information by your choice of spot cards. A low heart at trick one tells partner that club values are in your hand and the heart 10 would advertise diamonds. Partner has Qxx of diamonds so would never switch away from this diamond holding when the heart deuce is played at trick one.

Known count signals also applies in discarding & has preference over odd/even & other schemes. If you have known length from the bidding , middle card discarded in your suit means that you have no suit preference or you prefer that suit led. Tom Gandolfo opened 1♥ , led a spade against 3NT. The opponents played their suit so Tom discarded a middle heart. If his spades were ready to go , he would discard a higher heart saying keep the spades coming. In another hand , LHO overcalled 1♠ with 2♥. He led the heart king against 4♠ , declarer played Ace & a small trump. On the 2^nd trump he discarded a high heart telling partner he had a quick entry in diamonds . Back came a diamond so a heart uppercut beat 4♠. Count & attitude are not necessary as we overcalled hearts , so signaling defaults to suit preference.

“Known count” principles apply when count & attitude are not important. In other words you default to suit preference. Declarer has a lot of entries in 4♠ with a side suit on the dummy consisting of KQJ10x . If it is determined that count & attitude are not important ( depending on context) , signaling defaults to suit preference. Partner wins the Ace , you have a preference for the higher ranking suit so you play a high spot . A middle spot is no suit preference and a low spot card means we prefer the lower ranking suit.

Kiz Fung & I had an easy example of this concept recently. She opened 3♠ vul , I bid 4♠ & all pass. Kiz led the ♠A to look at the dummy . ♠xx ♥Axxxxx ♦K10x ♣Kx . I played the spade deuce supposedly from ♠K82 . Kiz has 7♠ so known count signaling is in effect. The spades from the bidding are 7-3-2-1 so my spade king is not going to cash anyway. Seeing the spade deuce , she switches to a club & we beat the contract.

A local couple had a nice defense recently against Perry & I using Gartaganis signals. They opened 2♦ with ♠xx ♥Axx ♦K1098xx ♣xx & Perry reached 4♠ with LHO throwing in a 3♣ bid. The ♦A was lead & the board held ♦QJx so Gartaganis signals obviously come into effect. The 2♦ bidder played the ♦10 saying that he had the ♥A in case partner had a stiff ♦A. The heart was returned , the ♦K cashed & partner shows out so they take the 1^st four tricks & Perry went down in his game.