DEFENSIVE CARDING

There are boxes to check for follow-suit signals (signals you give when you must follow suit.) You should check the combination of boxes that describe your defensive signalling against suit and notrump contracts. It may be necessary to write some clarification in addition to check the appropriate boxes.

Standard:

Count:

    High-low shows an even number of cards in that suit, while low-high shows an odd number of cards.

Attitude:

    A high card shows interest in that suit, low-high shows disinterest.

Suit preference:

    Playing a low card shows preference for the lower-ranking offsuit (not trump and not the suit led); playing a high card shows preference for the higher-ranking offsuit.

If these definitions describe your agreement, check the boxes under
vs SUITS and/or vs NT. If you have some exceptions, check the Except box and write them in the lines provided.

Upside-Down:

    If your agreement is the opposite of standard, then you are playing upside-down. While it is permissible to play any combination of standard and upside-down signals against suits and notrump, you must mark your card correctly and CLEARLY. Check the appropriate boxes to indicate when you play these discards. Either note the upside-down portions as exceptions or draw a line from the Except box to the appropriately checked boxes under Upside-Down:.

FIRST DISCARD:

    On these lines, describe your discards. If you check nothing, you are announcing standard discards, with the emphasis on attitude.

Lavinthal

    Check this box if you tend to discard suits you don't like while giving suit preference for other suits.

Odd/Even

    Check this box if you discard odd-ranked cards to encourage in that suit and even-ranked cards to discourage in that suit and possibly give suit preference.

Whatever it is you are playing, either check the appropriate boxes or write it on the line and check whether it applies vs SUITS and/or vs NT.

OTHER CARDING:

    In this section, list other defensive signals that you play.

Smith Echo

    This is a method to indicate encouragement (by either partner) for the suit initially led by echoing on declarer's run of a long suit in dummy or his hand. Lack of an echo implies a desire for a switch, check the appropriate box(es) to indicate if you play this signal vs SUITS and/or vs NT.

Trump Suit Pref. (Preference)

    Check this box if you discard with three trumps to indicate a preference for one of the other suits.

Foster Echo

    Check this box if your agreement is that partner of the opening leader follows suit with his second highest card when he cannot beat dummy's card or the card that was led.

SPECIAL CARDING PLEASE ASK: Check this box if you have agreements that are unusual and/or cannot be clearly noted on the card. As Declarer it is always a good idea to check a defender's card and ask questions when you see that this box has been checked.

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