[Lobowolf]

Ken's post on the Smith Echo thread reminded me of something I hadn't thought about in a while. Before I played UDCA, I noticed that when I saw upside down carding referenced in bridge literature (this was in 2 or 3 different places), the sources I read said that typically players who use upside down carding would revert to standard count in present count situations. None of the sources ever gave an explanation as to why standard present count might be preferable. Anyone with a strong theoretical preference care to share?

[gwnn]

I think the main reason is when you have something like K92 over dummy, win the K and return the 9 (which is almost always best), that's standard present count, and from there on it's simpler to be consistent.

[kenrexford]

The precise problem on the other hand was unique, BTW, to 2/4 leads, perhaps.

All count signals should follow the principle that count is either odd or even, I would think. Hence, whatever card you played or would have played from a doubleton should govern what carding method you use, to be consistent. hence, if you play low-high with a doubleton on lead, then you should play low-high from four. If you lead second from four small, and you cannot afford to play the highest next, then perhaps think about 3/5 carding or lead 3/2 with four small.

When leading pure fourth best, with the annoying MUD problem, count gets muddy later, because you cannot really distinguish count right. This is of course why you opted 2/4 leads, which makes sense. But, you are sort of forced into upside-down present count (or standard original count) for good or ill, if you want to make sense, when giving the second count signal from a suit that you initiated on lead.

When following suit, you play low from even, whether 2 or 4, and your next card will be high regardless. So, if you also lead this way, the same principle applies.

Again, the problem with the method of second from four small is that you end up playing 8-9 from 9832. That looks bad, but you are forced into this to show true count later.

In the situation of an attitude card played first, however, you are free to use upside down or standard original or present as you wish, because you have not yet started the two-part count signal. However, there is no particular logical way simply because you play upside-down as a default, for upside-down original count is the same as standard present-count, and standard original count is the same as upside-down present count. So, if you want to give upside-down present count but think that standard present count makes more sense, then call it upside-down original count, or vice-versa, if it aids memory.