CARDING

LEADS: Circle card led from various holdings in each section - versus Suits and versus Notrump. No card circled announces standard leads (the card shown in bold type) - King from A-K-x, top card from an interior sequence (jack from K-J-10, 10 from K-10-9, etc). Circle any exceptions to standard leads.

LENGTH LEADS:

4th Best

    If you lead the fourth best card from suits like Q-8-6-2 (lead the 2) or K-J-8-6-2 (lead the 6), then check the appropriate box(es). It is understood that you lead third best from three cards, and lead the appropriate honor from sequences or interior sequences when you choose to do so. Your leads from small-cards-only should be circled under previous section.

vs SUITS:

    If you lead fourth-best against suit contracts, check this box.

vs NT:

    If you lead fourth-best against notrump contracts, check this box.

3rd/5th Best

    These boxes indicate that you lead third best from suits with an even number of cards and lowest from suits with an odd number of cards. e.g. lead the 6 from Q-8-6-2, lead the 3 from K-J-8-6-3, lead the 2 from Q-9-7-6-5-3-2.

vs SUITS:

    If you lead 3rd/5th against suit contracts, check this box.

vs NT:

    If you lead 3rd/5th against notrump contracts, check this box.

Attitude vs. NT

    Check this box if you lead lower from stronger holdings and higher from weaker ones against notrump contracts.

If you have other agreements, put them on the line at the bottom of this section.

Primary signal to partner's leads:

While many pairs may vary their primary signal to partner's opening lead depending upon dummy's particular holding and the auction, there is usually an agreed meaning except for special circumstances. Check your primary or normal agreement.

Attitude

    Check this box if the card you play to partner's opening lead shows your attitude towards the suit lead (whether you play standard or upside-down signals).

Count

    Check this box if the card you play to the first trick shows your count in the suit that partner lead, whether your signal is standard (high from an even number, low from an odd number) or upside-down (low from an even number, high from an odd numner).

Suit preference

    If the card that you play to the first trick shows suit preference to the other two suits (other than trump and the suit partner lead) then check this box. If you only make this signal when there is a singleton or void in dummy in the suit partner lead, then do not check the box.

The above is the official ACBL convention card guidelines as of Sep 2000.