ATTITUDE SIGNALS (Part 4)
When players first learn how to give attitude signals they are often taught that cards lower than the six are negative and cards higher than the six are positive—the six itself being neutral. This would be a wonderful system if only we had all of the right cards all of the time. Personally, I can’t remember the last time I had a six when I needed one. In real life, signals are relative. For example:
| West |  |
||||
| ♠ | 4 3 2 | ||||
| ♥ | Q 7 3 2 | ||||
| ♦ | K J 10 | ||||
| ♣ | Q J 10 | ||||
| South (You) | |||||
| ♠ | K Q 10 5 | ||||
| ♥ | 10 9 | ||||
| ♦ | 8 7 4 | ||||
| ♣ | 8 7 5 2 | ||||
The contract is 4♥ in the East. You lead the ♠K, dummy follows, partner plays the seven and declarer drops the six. Since the seven is a “high” spade, it would appear that your partner has given a positive attitude signal. If so, you should continue leading spades.
The truth of the matter is that your partner would probably kill for a diamond switch. Take another look at that ♠7. Dummy has the two, three and four, you hold the five and declarer contributed the six. Unless someone has added cards to the deck, the seven was the lowest spade your partner could play. And that makes it a negative signal.
| North | |||||
| ♠ | 9 8 7 | ||||
| ♥ | 8 4 | ||||
| ♦ | A Q 9 6 5 | ||||
| ♣ | 6 4 3 | ||||
| West | |
East | |||
| ♠ | 4 3 2 | ♠ | A J 6 | ||
| ♥ | A J 6 | ♥ | A K J 6 5 | ||
| ♦ | K J 10 | ♦ | 3 2 | ||
| ♣ | Q J 10 | ♣ | A K 9 | ||
| South | |||||
| ♠ | K Q 10 5 | ||||
| ♥ | 10 9 | ||||
| ♦ | 8 7 4 | ||||
| ♣ | 8 7 5 2 | ||||
If you lead another spade, declarer will lose only one spade and two diamonds. If you shift to a diamond, there will be no way to avoid a one trick set. Incidentally, there is no good reason to consider a club shift (instead of the diamond). If your partner holds the ace and king of clubs, he will probably get them anyway.
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