Signalling

Signalling is very important for defence. While it often does not matter which card a defender plays, one can make use of this indifference to convey important information to partner. The defensive signals in use are summarised in the following table.

Type of signal	When it is used	Specifications
Lead	When leading in a trick	Top of touching honours Top of interior sequence Fourth best from long suit MUD from 3-suiter High from doubleton
Attitude	When partner leads (except when it is a trump or K)	Standard (High for welcome)
Count	When partner leads a trump When partner leads a King	Standard (High for even number)
Suit preference	When leading a card for which partner is expected to ruff	Standard (High for higher-ranking side suit)
Discard	When making a discard	First discard is an attitude signal in the suit discarded Second discard is a count signal in the suit discarded
General carding	When no other signal can / has to be shown	Top of touching cards