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

 

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

 

Other carding agreements, including secondary methods (state when applicable) and exceptions to above

On Partner’s lead, secondary normal count, or McKenney at suit contracts if dummy has singleton or very strong holding

Smith Peters from both sides at NT (HI/LO on Declarer’s lead first lead encourages opening lead)

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.
S
ignals 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

 

 McKenney Discard 

also called Lenventhal 

 

          incorrectly called Revolving

a high card requests the  higher rank of the other two suits

 

a high card requests the higher rank  of the other two suits

You Follow with

Trumps are

 

You Discard

Declarer leads a 

 

S

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D

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a low card requests the lower  suit 

 

a low card requests the lower  suit

 

 

 

Reverse Discards sometimes

 

Revolving Discards 

 called Revolving

 

 

a high card requests the suit cyclically below the discarded suit

 

a high card requests the suit cyclically  above the discarded suit

You Discard

Declarer leads a 

 

You Discard

Declarer leads a 

 

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a low card requests the suit above

 

a low card requests the suit below