[The topic to be discussed below is quite controversial, and there are persuasive arguments for both sides. After you finish this article, see the commentary by Master Spades.]

Three basic defensive signals can be used when partnerships have some previous agreement on how to use them. These signals are invaluable in top-flight play, and should be standard tools used in any spades player's game. When I am playing I am constantly reminded of a Rod Stewart song, Every Picture Tells a Story. Every spot card regardless of size can be used to describe the quality of a suit, urgency to shift to a new suit, and the number of cards held in a suit. These three basic defensive signals are Attitude, Count, and Suit-Preference signals.

Attitude

This is a signal that you give partner only when he is leading a suit. A higher card played by you indicates a desire to have the suit returned. This high and low card method is called an echo. This signal received its birth due to the attention a high card gets. You can get partners attention in a hurry by playing a higher card than necessary, especially if many of the lower spots have not hit the table yet.

This signal is a fantastic tool, and the only way to get partner to continue in a suit with direction. Sometimes it will not be so obvious because partner may have only low spots such as the 3 and the 2. Let's say that you have led the K and partner has this holding, the 32. It is correct for him to play the 3. If you follow with the A or Q he will play the 2. This high-low, or echo is a very loud cry, equivalent of standing on the table, or snapping a card in the "coffeehousing" days to get partner to continue leading that suit.

A lower card played indicates that you would like a shift to some other suit. When you are not overly excited about partner's suit, and have no real suit that you would like a shift to, it is still better to give partner a false come-on signal than risk losing a trick or tricks by his switch. He will constantly try to find your suit if you have asked for a shift and may give up tricks in every suit that he breaks for the opponents. This little lie to partner will clue him quickly to the weakness of your hand, and allow him to quickly protect his holdings in other suits. It warns partner that whatever trick or tricks you have are probably unprotected and that you prefer the opponents to break that suit.

Partner leads the King of Diamonds. Which card do you play?

A. K 7 2 J 10 8 7 Q 9 3 Q 3 2

B. 5 4 3 2 A 8 4 3 10 2 K 9 5

C. J 10 9 8 7 6 4 3 A 2 4 3 2

D. A 7 2 4 3 2 4 3 2 8 4 2

E. 10 9 8 7 J 10 9 9 6 2 10 8 6

F. 7 6 3 A 4 3 10 4 2 A Q J 7

RED = Standard signals.
BLUE = Upside-down signals.

I personally invert this signal and use what is known as an Upside-Down attitude signal. I think this works better because of bagging and nil possibilities. Basically using the upside-down attitude method one would play a higher card to indicate a shift to a new suit, and the lowest card to indicate a strong desire to have it continued. This method allows me to throw my bigger spot cards and face cards away in bagging deals. The standard signal does not cater very well to this part of the game. The lower spot is much easier to dispense with, easier to read, and saves your intermediate spots and faces for extra tricks.

Count

The count signal is used primarily when the opponents are breaking a suit. Playing high and then low indicates an even number of cards in that suit. Playing low and then high indicates and odd number of cards in the suit. I like to invert this signal as well. For a quick partnership reference all that is needed is a mention of UDCA. (Upside-Down Count and Attitude Signals), and the partnership has saved some discussion about signaling.

Either method works well as long as you have a partnership agreement. If you invert both of these signals you should definitely let the opponents in on this agreement by stating at the beginning of the match that you play UDCA. Remember to use this signal when your opponents are leading not your partner. Partner gets an attitude first when he is leading.

You can also use this signal after you have pitched or discarded in a suit that has not been led yet. Let's say partner's Q is winning the trick and you're about to make a pitch or discard in another suit. The discard that you make is very important! It tells partner quickly about a suit you want him to lead, or not to lead. A higher discard is a request for partner to lead that suit, and a low discard simply says I have no desire to have this suit led.

After you have made a discard in a suit the second card that you pitch, or play from that same suit is now a count signal. The second card played is based on count at present, not your original length in the suit. So if you started with a five card suit and have discarded one, the next one you play will indicate an even number at present in your hand.

Opponent leads the King of Hearts. Which card do you play?

A. A J 7 2 7 2 K 10 3 Q J 7 2

B. K Q 5 2 7 6 2 J 7 3 A 10 7 2

C. K 10 2 Q 8 4 A 7 3 J 7 6 3

Partner is winning with the King of Hearts. Which card do you play?

A. 7 6 3 2 -- A K Q J 10 K 8 3 2

B. 8 4 3 -- A Q J 9 6 4 2

C. Q 7 4 -- 10 8 4 3 A K J 4

Suit-Preference

This signal is used in several ways but it is primarily used to indicate to your partner, which suit to lead when you are giving him a ruffing, or trump trick. If you know that partner is void in a suit you can send him a message while giving him his trump trick. The message is given by the size of the card you are leading in the suit for him to ruff. A higher card led in the suit indicates that he may get back to your hand, or you prefer the higher-ranking suit led after he ruffs this trick. A lower card led in the suit for pard to ruff indicates that he might be able to get back to you in a lower ranking suit. First we must understand the rank of the suits: Clubs is the lowest ranking suit, followed by Diamonds, Hearts, and then Spades.

If partner is out of diamonds and you want to tell him to lead a heart, give him the biggest diamond you can afford to lead back. This indicates a return of the higher-ranking suit. We do not count the spades suit. The only suits in question are the two remaining suits. Partner is ruffing in one so it is narrowed down to lower and higher immediately. This just eliminates the guesswork from partner's side. If you could get back in the lead say with the Ace of clubs you would give partner your smallest diamond.

This signal can also be used when an opponent trumps. If you throw a ridiculously high card away and a bagging deal does not appear imminent you're indicating to partner that you are holding something in the higher-ranking suit, and would like a shift from him in that suit when he gets the lead. Why else would you throw your Ace or King under a trump trick in a close bid deal? Lets say partner leads a small diamond and it is trumped, with you playing the King of diamonds. This implies heart strength, and asks for a shift from pard when he regains the lead.

Partner is out of Clubs! Which card do you play?

A. 7 6 9 8 7 3 A K 2 J 7 2

B. K 8 A 10 2 9 6 4 3 Q 8 2

C. Q 10 K Q 10 8 J 7 4 10 7 3

This is but a meager attempt at a subject that is very vast. I have used these signals for 20 years and they have served me well. If you occasionally have a carding disaster because of a signal you are still better off than if you do not signal at all. I have not seen any material of this nature anywhere on the web, at least distributed freely. Please enjoy this and remember that you have to have a roadmap to get anywhere. The cards are no different. Every Picture Tells a Story.

For questions: mailto:ruffnit1@aol.com

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Regards,
Ruffkid1 (Jay Tomlinson)

Read the commentary to this article by Master Spades.