Friday, May 14, 2004 1:51 AM

Signals - Pseudo Squeezes

PITBULLS:

The art of signaling . It is called an art because there are no hard and fast rules. Signaling is very much a “depending on context” tool. Partner must read between the lines and both partners must be aware of the situation. This is because signals can vary from attitude to count to suit preference depending on the contract level, type of contract , trumps involved or a myriad of other factors. The meaning of the word attitude changes depending on the level of the contract. In a partial or game attitude means that you should continue your suit or switch to mine. In a game , there can be some suit preferences built in when there is a “known count “ situation. In 6NT or slams generally there is only one meaning for attitude. This is the suit I am going to hold onto for pseudo squeeze situations.

The best players have an understanding that when partner leads a suit attitude takes precedence . The 2^nd round it is original count and even third round it could be suit preference. If declarer leads any suit count is given first and suit preference second round. However even these understanding vary depending on context. Here is an example . The contract is 1NT and I lead the spade queen and small from the board . We play upside down count and attitude . Partner plays the deuce saying he likes my lead. I get in again and continue spades all well and good. I lead the spade queen against 3NT and partner plays the deuce . I get in again and continue spades. We beat 3NT. In 6 NT , I lead the queen of spades and partner plays the deuce. This does not mean he likes the suit that is ridiculous - he is giving count. Why ? because 6NT is quite often a matter of defending against squeezes real and imaginary. It is far more important to give count then attitude when partner leads a suit at that rarified atmosphere. I lead the spade queen once in a 6NT contract and partner gave me attitude saying he did not like spades. I got the wrong count of the hand and declarer made it as I discarded wrong. I get an entire count of the hand if partner just gave me the correct count in spades at trick one . Only a 17 IMP swing.

In a game contract, if it is obvious that the declarer is rectifying the count for a squeeze a discard changes its meaning. Instead of attitude ( whether odd /even or a different method ) saying switch to this suit its saying this is the suit I am guarding you better take care of the other one. The opponents were in 4♠ tonight and declarer setup a threat in diamonds on the board so I had to hold on to my 4^th diamond. There was AKx of clubs on the board and I held Jxxxx. I had to know whether I need needed to protect clubs or not . This could be done by a count situation . I knew how many diamonds declarer had as he ruffed the 3^rd round. I knew he had 6 trump so he is 6-2 and a count would fill in the blanks. However it is sometimes too difficult to discard showing count. You might waste a high spot needed to keep the suit intact. It is easier to show by discarding and signaling that this is the suit I am guarding ( attitude ) so you better hold on the other. Partner plays an odd heart so I know I must keep 3 clubs . No pseudo squeeze & if there is a real squeeze then your partners better play it just as well. Squeeze defense is attitude rather then count when it comes to discards.

In a 6 NT contract showing count by discarding is too difficult. Attitude again has one meaning & message in a slam . This is the suit I am guarding in squeeze situations. If you can get away with it , count applies second round of the original suit lead. A high card shows an original odd number and a low card an original even number. If declarer leads a suit in 6NT or many other contracts , the first signal is count and the second round is suit preference saying that is the suit I am going to guard. No not get carried away with odd/even discards in slam contracts. A high odd card discard could be just giving count . Again “depending on context”.

There are other tricks of the trade with reverse Smith echos. Declarer in 6NT is running a solid suit where count needs not to be shown . The order in which you follow suit shows the suit you going to keep in a pseudo squeeze situation. Follow with the low one first means you have nothing to say . Following with a high one first and then a low card means that I am keeping the lower ranking of the two suits. High then middle says I am guarding the higher ranking of the two remaining suits. Reverse Smith echos were designed to say I like you lead partner. However in a slam the meaning changes. All that is important in 6NT contracts in particular is not giving the declarer the contract on a pseudo squeeze. Telling partner by suit preference is a handy way of avoiding pseudo squeezes. Fatal sluffs just hand contracts to declarer quite often.

Watch for 2^Nd round signals if declarer plays a suit you lead . Partner will attempt to show you original count in a game contract. This could get you off a pseudo squeeze. Following suit in slams is always count and discards are mainly attitude meaning that that’s the suit I am keeping for squeeze situations. However when it can not be attitude it is count. Defending slams takes skill.