There is a lot of controversy regarding signaling at Spades, and perhaps there always will be argument. There is also a lot of ignorance and myth. Let us examine some of these issues.

Signaling - Is it Legal?

Many Spades players are totally unfamiliar with the concept of card signaling. When they first hear about it, their reaction is usually one of suspicion. "That's cheating! Er... it is, isn't it?"

Card signaling is perfectly legal, and it is another formidable weapon in the experts' arsenal. Use of signaling gives a team an advantage over their opponents whose card plays are meaningless.

Technically and ethically, a pair that uses card signaling is obligated to inform their opponents of this fact before the game begins. In practice, it may be better to not mention your signaling agreements. So few Spades players are aware of the technique that an announcement "We use standard signals" is likely to cause more confusion, hostility, and discomfort to the opponents than to say nothing at all.

Not for Everyone

Jay failed to point out that card signaling is quite incompatible with the popular strategy of avoiding bags. If you are a player who attaches any importance to bag avoidance, signaling is not for you. Perhaps 4 out of 5 Spades players believe it is vital to jettison Queens and Jacks at Trick One in order to avoid bags at the finish. If you regularly use this strategy, there is no point in reading any further. Use your browser's Back button.

When to Signal - and When Not to Signal

Signaling is used by aggressive players who are trying to win as many tricks as possible, always hungry for the set. But signals are not used when defending a nil bid or when the hand degenerates to an obvious bagging situation. Strong players always consider an 11-total bid to start out as a setting situation, not a bagging situation, although the picture can change after the first few tricks. Against an opponent's nil, proper defense does not allow the luxury of using your spot cards or honors for signaling purposes.

Standard Signals

There are a great many card plays that carry additional information other than simply saying, "I have this card." Some are conventional plays, or conventions for short, rather than signals. Leading the top of a sequence is a familiar convention.

We can define a signal as the choice of a certain card when Pard is expecting either of two contrasting messages. The messages are usually either encouragement/discouragement (attitude) or odd/even (count). Pard is expected to be able decipher your message based on the situation at the time.

• Show encouragement by the play of an unusually high card; a low card is a discouraging signal.
  
• A high spot card followed by a lower one shows an even number of cards; playing low-high shows an odd number.

The high-low play is called an echo, although in Great Britain they still call it a peter. (For the historically minded, the high-low signal was invented over 150 years ago by British Whist players and named after the Blue Peter, a signaling flag flown on sailing ships.)

While we're here, it is a good place to mention a little-known but immensely valuable lead convention. When starting a new suit, the lead of a low card shows strength in the suit and asks partner to return this suit when he can. Alternately, the lead of a high spot card shows disinterest in the suit. Note that this high/low card convention is the reverse of the standard signaling pattern.

Upside-Down Signals

Jay may not like to hear this, but the use of Reverse, or Upside-Down signals is not well-suited for Spades. Jay mentions this form of signaling has advantages for nil and bagging hands, forgetting that all signals are off in these two situations. Reverse signals have no special advantage in the normal situation.

Additional Signaling Methods

Summary

Card signaling is a valuable addition to a player's repetoire and every respectable Spades player must be aware of signaling. Even players who prefer to dodge bags instead need to know what their opponents (and even their partners) are trying to say.