Defensive Signals

Quick Summary

Updated March 2026 with the latest strategies and examples.

Defensive signals are legal ways to communicate with partner while defending. The cards you play send messages about your holdings.

The Three Main Signals

Signal Purpose When Used

Attitude Like/dislike this suit On partner’s lead

Count Even/odd cards held Following to declarer’s suit

Suit Preference Which other suit to lead When attitude is obvious

Attitude Signals

Tell partner if you want them to continue the suit.

Standard (high=like)

• High card = “I like this suit, continue!”

• Low card = “I don’t like this suit, switch”

Example

Partner leads A♥ against 4♠:

♠72 ♥Q93 ♦K8542 ♣J74

Play the 9♥ — Encouraging! You want hearts continued.

♠72 ♥853 ♦AQ542 ♣K74

Play the 3♥ — Discouraging. Try another suit.

Count Signals

Tell partner how many cards you have in a suit.

Standard

• High-low = Even number (2, 4, 6)

• Low-high = Odd number (1, 3, 5)

Example

Declarer leads spades. You hold ♠8642:

Play 8 then 2 (high-low) = Even count (4 cards)

If you held ♠862:

Play 2 then 6 then 8 (low) = Odd count (3 cards)

Why Count Matters

Partner can figure out declarer’s distribution: – Dummy has 4 spades – You showed 4 spades (even count) – Partner has 2 spades – Declarer has 3 spades

Suit Preference Signals

When attitude is obvious, the card you play suggests which OTHER suit to lead.

The Setup

• High card = Higher-ranking suit

• Low card = Lower-ranking suit

• Middle = No preference

Classic Situation

Partner leads K♠ against 5♦. Dummy has ♠Q3. Partner clearly must continue spades. Your card says which suit next:

♠92 ♥AJ74 ♦853 ♣K642

Play 9♠ (high) = Lead hearts (higher of the other suits)

♠92 ♥8542 ♦853 ♣AJ7

Play 2♠ (low) = Lead clubs (lower of the other suits)

When to Use Each Signal

Situation Typical Signal

Partner leads, following to trick Attitude

Declarer leads, following Count

Giving partner a ruff Suit preference

Discarding Attitude (usually)

Upside-Down Signals

Many advanced partnerships play upside-down signals:

Standard Upside-Down

High = encourage Low = encourage

High-low = even Low-high = even

Advantages: – Keeps your high cards – Harder for declarer to read

Discuss with partner!

Discards

When you can’t follow suit, your discard sends a message:

Standard

• Discard high in a suit you want led

• Discard low in a suit you don’t want

Lavinthal/McKenney

• High discard = higher of remaining suits

• Low discard = lower of remaining suits

Common Mistakes

• Signaling with your only card, Don’t!

• Forgetting to signal, Partner is watching

• Signaling to declarer, Be subtle

• Inconsistent agreements, Discuss beforehand

Key Takeaways

• Attitude first, On partner’s leads

• Count when following, To declarer’s suits

• Suit preference when obvious, Point to another suit

• Agree with partner, Standard or upside-down?

• Don’t telegraph, Declarer is watching too

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See also: Opening Leads (choosing the first card), Lead-Directing Doubles (asking for specific lead)

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Practice What You’ve Learned

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