[inquiry]

Hi. I want to discuss count signals for players using 2/4 leads opening leads. If at all possible, I would just like opinions concerning the best way to signal remaing count (not original count) when leading a suit OTHER than at trick one in which your first card was either attitude or attempt to win the trick.

In otherwords, say your parnter leads a suit and you won the ACE, and you are going to return this suit through declearer.

First: What do you return from each of the following original holdings?

a) A72
A732
c) A7532

Second: Would it make a difference whether or not you are returning through declearer or dummy?

Let me put this question in some context. I know some people who play 2/4 leads only on opening lead. Others pretty much all the time (opening or later), and still others, who lead 2/4 all the time through declearer, but use 3/5 through dummy at other than trick one.

If we were to take a poll, I would vote to continue using 2/4 remaining count leads THROUGH declearer but 3/5 through dummy.

Ben

[lenze]

For over thirty years, I have played this pretty straight forward. It seems to work OK

a) A72 The 7
A732 The 2
c) A7532 The 3

Also, I play Present Count when following to a suit on the second lead. Example

a) K63
K743
c) K8653

Say partner leads the 2 and I play the King.(Dummy having only small cards) and declarer wins the Ace. If partner or declarer leads this suit next, I give present count.

a) K63 The 6
K743 The 3
c) K8653 The 6 or 8

[Rado]

Hi friends,
When leading 2nd/4th best and using reverse count (UDCA) when returning the suit must be given the original count.
Example in 3NT Partners lead 5 through 67 doubleton in dummy. You have A92.Winning the A the nature of bridge play requires to return the "9"
As GENERAL RULE:
when reversed count (and 2/4 leads) - always signal the original count
when standart count (and standart or 3/5 leads) - always signal the remaining count.
Together with keeping high "intermediates" when encouraging - this is the main advantage over standart leads and count.
Regards, Rado