UNDERSTANDING CARDINGS DEFINITIONS
The EBU ORANGE BOOK http://www.ebu.co.uk/publications/Laws and Ethics Publications/The Orange Book/2008 Orange Book.pdf provides a sample convention card that shows the partnership methods for carding (or signalling) in each of 3 traditional situations: On partners lead, On declarers lead and Discarding (both suited and no-trump contracts).
CARDING METHODS |
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Primary Method v suit contracts |
Primary Method v NT contracts |
On Partner’s Lead |
Rev Attitude |
Rev Attitude |
On Partner’s Lead |
Normal Count |
Normal Count |
When Discarding |
Normal Count |
Normal Count |
On second round of suit |
Current count |
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Other carding agreements, including secondary methods (state when applicable) and exceptions to above |
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On Partner’s lead, secondary normal count, or McKenney at suit contracts if dummy has singleton or very strong holding |
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Smith Peters from both sides at NT (HI/LO on Declarer’s lead first lead encourages opening lead) |
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Secondary Rev Attitude when discarding |
All carding methods, understandings and signal types must be declared along with the specific circumstances that apply to their use. In certain situations the method may be not to make a signal or not to attach meaning to a discard. The OB section 4 K has statements about the meaning of signals and situations, but no mention of the words method or type. Section OB 11 R discusses dual meaning signals where two messages of different type(my word) are indicated by one signal event. The method word appears only in the OB illustration of a sample system card, where method is used in the sense that you or I would use the phrase signal scheme or discard scheme. The OB however deems that SIGNALS are in suit carding and describe Attitude to Lead, or Count and Suit Preference. DISCARDS are out of suit and often used to convey a suit preference message – a high card promotes the discarded suit. Lead methods (4th highest etc.), although a form of carding, are declared in a separate section of the system card because information is specified for all initial led suit holding possibilities.
I. WHAT DO THE CARDING RULES MEAN
This section focuses on following in-suit signals with spot cards but occasionally it drifts to other carding methods.
CARDING
Carding
methods embrace signals, discards and leads.
The 'message [type]’ typically refers to one of the regular
classifications (attitude, suit preference etc.) but it could be
applied to any other novel carding concept with a compact set of
related meanings. The METHOD is the classification or signal type
that is deemed to apply in a particular carding situation. All
methods have an execution protocol (e.g. high or low spot cards) and
it is the protocol that alerts declarer and partner to an attached
meaning. All methods have to be declared together with any alternate
message types/meanings that might be conveyed via the same protocol
given the prima facie carding situation is the same.
Obfuscation or encryption is not permitted and there are restrictions for SIGNALS.
MEASURE
The
popular protocols attach
meaning to an obvious attribute, property or relational value of the
signal card and often it discriminates between just two related
meanings, but not always. The attributes are values, a colour value,
pip rank value, picture or no picture, the suit rank etc.. The
measure is the thing that meanings depend on. It
is a sort of calculated artificial property, the card is even / is
odd the pip value is divisible by 3, pip value is a prime or
not-prime, the card is coloured or is plain, is-high / is-low etc. .
The measure can be modified by the state of play including the
bidding (e.g. a 9 might be “promoted” to be a low card) .
MEANING
Meanings
are often stated in a sort of procedural meta-language like “a
high card asks for the higher rank excluding this and trumps”: A
modicum of bridge logic is required to convert the meta-language to
real information. So a distinction is made between the
definition and real meaning. When
asked for explanation you are required only to state the definition
not any conclusions you may have drawn.
REGULAR
METHODS
There are the regular methods eponymous with the common
signal types: attitude to led suit, count /parity of led suit, and
in-suit suit preference by rank. These methods use established
elementary measures and meanings that players refer to as standard or
natural albeit that the EBU disavows this practice. Methods with
inverted common meanings are also popular and are declared with a
REVERSE qualifier. Often a method is a single message type that is
unique to the situation, then the word phrases of method,
signal, type and
message
are then used interchangeably
by players. The OB
sample convention card provides
a guide to the minimum set of methods that should be
declared.
CARDING CONCEPT
The
assigned
meanings
of a message type should align
to a carding concept such as preference or suit
length parity.
The concept in effect defines the signal/message type. The available
meanings should also form a complementary set - such
that the variation in meaning occurs in the same logical place and
all possible variations are used
.
SOPHISTICATION
Adventurous
signal types are limited only by the encryption rule OB
11
R 2 and
one’s imagination.
Signals
could show High
Honours, HCP Strength , or
inform partner that
‘a setting
trick exists’. They
could show the
hand shape or
request a
carding action such as a
request to unblock on next round,
etc. or a sophisticated message could request
the return of a specific signal type as
with AK or KA leads requesting count v suit preference.
TWO
CARD SIGNALS
The
specification of a two card signal (e.g. two card count) does
complicate the situation. Analysed as two signals, the first measure
establishes the threshold for the relational measure of the second
signal. One composite method but with
different measures applying.
The
method must be prefixed with the label ‘Two Card’ to show the
correlation between successive signal cards.
Moreover, the second time you play the suit it may be as a discard.
Is this completing the count or applying a discard method.
Declare Complete
Count as
an alternate discard method if this is the protocol. Clarity of
method is everything in the event of dispute.
RESTRICTIONS
OB
11
R 3 prohibits
in-suit
dual meaning signals methods
where one or more attributes of a single carding are used to
provide two meanings of different signal types. Methods that combine
in-suit signal types and meanings are generally
not
permitted by the EBU. Roman or DODDS style SIGNALS are not allowed.
The Orange Book does however allow DISCARD methods to mix and match
hence so DODDS can be used.
STATE
OF PLAY
In principle the whole state of play is available to
establish the method(s) in effect at a carding event. This includes
the card and its attributes, the disposition of cards in or out of
the current trick, the specifics of the contract, possibly bidding
history and previous signals.
The measure used and hence the
meaning of the signal is also adjustable by the SOP.
As mentioned above the threshold for a high card can be change as a
consequence of cards that are visible on the table or already played.
CLARITY
The
declared meanings of a signal is the meta-language, this is the
opponent’s agreement and understanding. Declarer is entitled to all
there is to know about opponent agreements and understandings. The
extent to which logic is required of declarer to resolve the message
as a ‘real’ meaning is moot. If there is a semantic ambiguity,
Declarer can call ‘foul’, because
OB
11
R2 states
that the meaning cannot depend on information that is not available
to declarer and that includes opponent semantics. Clarity will always
be the director’s guide in making a ruling.
It is common practice to signal an ambiguous meaning as a mechanism to make no signal. Also you can declare a method that no signal is given or a composite method where no signal is given in some situations.
SO
A FAMILIAR EXAMPLE
Method
and Message Type
McKenney
In-suit
Suit Preference
Applies
When
it is obvious suit preference is required
When partner starts with
an Ace
Measure
High
or Low pip value
Assigned
Meanings and
Meta-Language Rules
excluding
trumps and led suit
a low card= lower ranked of the candidate
suits
a high card= higher ranked of the candidate suits
{If
the method is to apply to no trump contracts additional exclusion
logic is required.}
Resolved
signal meaning at the table
with
spades trumps ‘a
high club, if
a signal,
means
preference of hearts’ the
higher of the other suits.
II.
DEPENDS ON THE
SITUATION
Although the OB seems to apply only a few restrictions on carding per se, the preferred declaration style is to document carding as methods, with the signals, measures and meanings based on unambiguous principles, at least for club level competition.
Signals with multiple message types are disallowed within a single carding. However there is an example of what I call a composite method in the OB employing two signal types in different situations but using the same signal card measure. Providing only one set of complementary meanings can be applicable to a situation, then it does not violate the mix and match rules for in-suit signals.
OB section 4 K 3 states that if the meaning of a signal depends upon the situation, the primary meaning and any alternative meanings must be stated on the convention card. For example, if a high card normally shows an even number but is instead encouraging in some positions, this could be described as ‘high = even (encouraging)’.
BREVITY
There
are two ways to approach this. One option is to assume this is
declaration brevity and two separate methods can apply to a carding
event but that the situation surrounding it is somehow different to
distinguish between the methods. Only one message type can be
legitimate for a situation. Here the same
signal card measure (High/Low) has been used.
The phrase “in some positions” then begs the question, in what
situations or positions is the alternate meaning used.
MURKY
METHODS
The other option is to accept that composite methods are a
valid signal form, using elements of different signal types, but
which collapse to a single signal/message type in an actual
situation. (like quantum theory with the collapse of a probability
wave instantiating an event). And presumably the situation can be
miss-interpreted by either partner or declarer. For example a carding
signal could be explained as “when it is clear that suit preference
is required it is given, else count” . Because the meaning is
murky, it has become become a “judgement” method and all the
meanings are grouped in one method declaration as shown by the
example from the
OB.
Declarer
has to live with this uncertainty since no encryption has been
applied and anyway defender is permitted to false signal and mislead
both partner and declarer.
Where
the carding
meanings
change with
different situations the OB
has coined
them to be alternate
meanings.
Each set of meanings must in principle be associated with different
signal types to be considered as an alternate in the first place, and
It is assumed that the measure used by both message types is the
same. In principle you could have
High
means encouraging in one situation and High means discouraging in
another,
or:
Standard signals in some situations and reverse
signals in others.
Although
not explicitly prohibited the OB, it would go against an acceptable
standard of clarity if the difference in circumstances that determine
the mode of a signal are subtle. If by declaring a composite
method, like the High Card
example above, it reduces the chances that declarer can receive or
claim to have received a mistaken explanation, then it would be a
preferred style of declaration. If the measures are different e.g.
high/low and red/black then separate methods should be specified for
a single carding event as alternates.
Changing the meaning of a signal card comes about, in the main, because a carding event is superseded by circumstance and a different signal type is applied. If the signal card measure changes then a different method applies. The superseding circumstance could be
‘if
attitude to lead has been given then a one card count applies’
or
‘when
it is clear that partner is not going to continue the suit then suit
preference applies’.
PRIMARY AND
ALTERNATES
The
initial method (and signal type) associated with any prominent or
obvious carding situation (regular or original) is coined by the OB
sample convention card to be a
primary
method. If
alternate
methods also
apply to
a prominent carding situation
then it is clarity that determines whether these are declared
separately or alongside the primary method perhaps mirroring the use
of parenthesis as suggested in OB
rule 4K3 above.
Moreover a secondary
method is
assumed to be an alternate of a prominent that applies solely by
virtue of the primary
has been previously applied.
The method or signal type is labelled with a prefix ‘secondary’.
If no secondary has been specified, it is assumed that the primary is
not
re-applied later. An exception
alternate always
applies when
their circumstances arise.
ROUND
TWO
Correlated meanings (two card count signals ) are declared as
a two card something method entry on the system card. The two-card
prefix must be used.
OB
4 K 4 refers to “indicating the agreement on the second round of a
suit”. A
‘second round’ carding situation can be added at the end the
defaults (the
blue line in the table above) however
the method/signal applied may need qualifying like current
count versus
original
count. A
similar situation is present with LEADS viz. original 4th highest.
CATCHALL
Where the
opposition is an occasional partnership at club level there will not
be sufficient time to put in place most of the tactical carding
agreements. Common practice and the desire for convention card
brevity often assumes a catch-all understanding
is in force. If any
message/signal type has been declared on the system card then the
Catch-All is something like ‘when
it is clear that partner has a preferential interest in a signal type
then it is given’.
But technically it is an undeclared understanding and the partnership
may lose out in a dispute.
III.
STRETCH METHODS
The EBU is always struggling to define legality where the horse of current practice has already left the stable. But if this assessment of the OB is correct I would NOT be allowed a composite universal signalling method with the signal types and signal card measure all changing with the situation. I would have called it MS-DOS, meanings depend on the situation. However I might be allowed to play the methods of this section.
As a novel signal type, consider in-suit suit preference but using second letter rank: Viz. hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades.
Method
and Message Type
Modified
Rank Order
in-suit Preference
Applies
When
it is obvious suit preference is required
When partner starts with
an Ace
Measure
High
or Low pip value
Assigned
Meanings and
Meta-Language Rules
Suit
rank order is HDCS
excluding trumps and led suit
a low card=
lower modified rank of the candidate suits
a high card= higher
modified rank of the candidate suits .
In principle this is no more complex or encrypted than rotating or McKenney signals, but consider signal measures with 3 or 4 steps.
Method
and Message Type Indirect
Preference by Length or Strength
Measure
4
paired pip values
Attributable
meanings and ML Rules
The
meanings are
shortest
suit,
longest
suit,
strongest
suit,
weakest
suit
Leader
to Switch to a suit with the requested criterion.
The paired pip
values 23 45 67 89 are mapped to second letter criterion names
HOTE.
The
chances of having the correct card is small. So you make the best
choice with your available cards.
Method and Message
Type High Card Points deviation
relative to the hand
strength implied from the bidding
Measure high, low
and middling cards
Attributable meanings and ML Rules
High
card = plus 2
Middling card = as expected so 0 difference
Lo
card = minus 2
One
card in-suit signals are constrained compared to DISCARDS where you
have much greater choice of signal cards and 4 measure steps can be
accommodated as with DODDS (discouraging odds with colour preference)
or ITALIAN(hi lo with odd even) discards.
IV. WHAT OTHERS ARE NOT DOING
The structure of opponent’s methods and conventions is confusing because often each of the partners often has a different understanding of the words they have used. To recap,
Signals are in suit and normally mean Attitude to lead, Count and Suit Preference
Discards are out of suit and normally mean Suit Preference
Conventions that combine in-suit signal types are generally not permitted by the EBU. Roman or Dodd’s style SIGNALS are not allowed. The Orange Book however allows DISCARDS to mix and match hence Dodd’s is OK.
The EBU laws require opponent’s understandings be the same. DO NOT assume they are, but how you play as declarer is up to you. The director may consider their effective understanding is at variance to an explanation you may have received and if consequently you are damaged a Mistaken Explanation is grounds to adjust/correct the score.
The common methods are often un-stated or stated as STANDARD or NORMAL (a practice disapproved of by the EBU). The simplest approach is to decide on ATITUDE signals and discards or COUNT signals and ATITUIDE discards. (Nb. High-Low leads is declared as a LEAD style).
Common
Attitude to lead
High
is encouraging Low is discouraging
Common
Count
High
Low Peter is even
Common
Suit Preference Discard
The method is ‘this-suit attitude’:
low spot = no interest in this suit, high spot = keen on this suit.
Sometimes this is simply described as attitude or REVERSE attitude in
the upside-down style. (It can be confused with the ‘encouragement
attitude’ method commonly applied on Partner’s lead.) More
advanced but common: a high spot McKenney style discard in a third
dead suit is also possible but it must be clear that the discard can
not be misunderstood to show the third suit as having key cards. The
low signal can be ambiguous.
Common
Suit Preference in-suit
None
preferring count.
But if it is clear that partner is to do an
immediate switch then signal very big or very small in the suit to
show a suit rank preference upward or downward.
If REVERSE SIGNALS are declared on a system card, they must be clarified. Does the description apply just to the ATTITUDE to lead i.e. low encouraging or does it cover a low-high even/odd COUNT, or does it cover INSUIT PREFERENCE signals.
Carding Conventions
If more sophisticated methods are in place, then the preference signals or discards are normally McKenney or Revolving. One is not quite reverse of the other and are often misnamed. Beware!
In suit McKenney suit preference requires exclusion rules:
# for trump contracts apply not current and not trumps.
# for no-trump contracts apply not current and exclude the least likely.
McKenney Inuit Suit Preference |
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McKenney Discard |
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also called Lenventhal |
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incorrectly called Revolving |
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a high card requests the higher rank of the other two suits |
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a high card requests the higher rank of the other two suits |
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You Follow with |
Trumps are |
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You Discard |
Declarer leads a |
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a low card requests the lower suit |
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a low card requests the lower suit |
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Reverse Discards sometimes |
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Revolving Discards |
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called Revolving |
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a high card requests the suit cyclically below the discarded suit |
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a high card requests the suit cyclically above the discarded suit |
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You Discard |
Declarer leads a |
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You Discard |
Declarer leads a |
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a low card requests the suit above |
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a low card requests the suit below |
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