Signaling

We are all trying to finding ways to let partner know what to lead back to us during contract defense.

At present many of us have tried the Lavinthal and the Odd-Even systems, both of which have their problems and limitations. With these systems it is only the first card discarded that sends your message. With Lavinthal, a small card discard says” I don’t like this suit but like the other 2 suits.” With the Odd-Even system an odd card shows interest in the suit but discards of even suits convey this; a small even card says I like the smaller of the outside suits and a high even card says I like the higher of the outside suits.

According to Jerry Helms in the April Bridge Bulletin, we need a signal that works throughout the play of the contract. As usual he stays with the old tried and true methods of play. The Standard method is the best and simplest. A discard of a high card says I like the suit and a low card discard says, I don’t. Keep things simple and stay out of trouble.

Once again our games this week and those of the rest of May are GrassRoots FUNd games all paying higher master point awards. The winners of our Friday, May 11 Evergreen game were: N/S 1st Ron Caudle and Don Webster (3rd overall), 2nd Andrea Cozart and Pat Featherston (4th overall), 3rd Betty Bills and BettyBonner Steele; E/W 1st Margaret and Chuck Rimer (1st overall), 2nd Judy Gealy and Fern Albracht (2nd overall), 3rd Genny Mozolak and Joe O’Brien (5th overall).

Featured is board#16 from this game E/W vulnerable West dealer

NORTH:
S K Q 8 5 3
H T 5
D A K 5 4
C A J
WEST:                EAST:
S A 9 4 2             S J 7
H K 8 6 3           H A Q J 9 7 2
D J                      D 6
C K Q T 7            C 5 4 3 2
SOUTH:
S T 6
H 4
D Q T 9 8 7 3 2
C 9 8 6

Best score N/S was 4DS making 5 made by Ron Caudle and Don Webster, while Joe O’Brien and Genny Mozolak were first E/W making 4H*E
Winning at the Tuesday’s Women’s Club game were: N/S 1st Fern Albracht and Toni Iossi (1st overall), 2nd Mack Brown and Marvin Jones (4th overall), 3rd Shirley and Ron Jeffers (5th overall) ; E/W 1st BettyBonner Steele and Loyd Hill (2nd overall), 2nd Margaret and Chuck Rimer (3rd overall), 3rd Patsy Reynolds and Don Webster.