Defense, Chapter 5; Smith Signal - Part I

In this series of articles I will write about important matters on defense. If you missed the previous ones, see Defense: Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Chapter 5: Smith Signal. Part I

What is the Smith signal? When to give it?
The Smith signal is an attitude carding signal. Smith signal is given at trick 2. It can be given by any of the two defenders, either the one who is on lead, or his partner. Smith is used to show attitude, unless when looking at the dummy and declarer's play it is clearly more important to give count (will refer to that in a later example).

So, playing Smith, a defender will follow with a low card to the 2nd trick if he is not interested in the opening suit, and will play a high card if he likes the suit attacked by the opening leader.

Example a)

	♥75
♥AT632		♥J
	♥K

Against 3NT you lead the ♥3, partner plays the ♥J and declarer wins the trick with the ♥K. The ♥Q is missing. Who has the ♥Q?

It can be either with partner (with ♥QJ he will play the ♥J as 3rd hand, low from sequence - see Defense: Chapter 3) or with declarer (declarer might choose to play the ♥K from ♥KQ).

If partner has the ♥Q, next time you are on lead you need to continue with another heart to his ♥Q.

If declarer has it, we would need to get partner on lead, on another suit, so that he can return a heart from his hand to our ♥AT through declarer's ♥Qx to capture declarer's ♥Q.

So... How can we find out, early enough, who has the ♥Q?

Declarer plays now, at trick 2, another suit. Watch what happens now, in this suit that declarer plays at trick 2:
- If partner follows with a low card, he is telling you that he does not have the ♥Q
- If partners follows suit with a high card, he is saying that he has the ♥Q, so you know it's safe to play a low heart next time you win the lead.

Example b)

	♠AQ52 ♥75 ♦K943 ♣J62
♥3		♠963 ♥QJ4 ♦A72 ♣9854
	♥K

Same situation as in previous example, but this time you are in partner's seat.

Your partner lead the ♥3. Dummy played the ♥5, you followed with the ♥J and declarer won the ♥K.

At trick 2, declarer plays a low club to the ♣J in dummy. How will you tell partner that you have the ♥Q?

You must play the ♣9 at this trick, which will encourage your partner to continue hearts.

Example c)

	♠AQ52 ♥75 ♦K943 ♣J62
♥3		♠963 ♥J64 ♦A72 ♣9854
	♥K

Same as in the examples above, but this time the ♥J is your highest card in the suit partner lead. Declarer wins the ♥K and plays a low club to dummy's ♣J.

How will you tell partner you have nothing else in his suit? Now you need to follow with a low club at trick 2. That will tell your partner that you have no further interest in his opening lead suit (= You don't have the ♥Q).

You can use Smith against suit contracts too.

Example d)

	♠KQ43 ♥Q54 ♦842 ♣Q54
♦9		♠82 ♥962 ♦KQ763 ♣K63
	♦A

You are defending 4♠. Partner lead the ♦9. You played the ♦Q and declarer won the ♦A.

At trick 2, declarer plays a spade, and your partner jumps up with the ♠A. You must play the ♠8 to this trick (your highest trump), to show your partner that you like the suit he lead, diamonds (=You have the ♦K).

Example e)

	♠KQ43 ♥Q54 ♦842 ♣Q54
♦9		♠82 ♥962 ♦QT763 ♣KJ3
	♦A

Same situation as the previous example. You are defending 4♠. Partner lead the ♦9. You played the ♦Q and declarer won the ♦A.

At trick 2, declarer plays trumps and partner jumps up with the Ace. This time, follow with the ♠2, indicating you have no further interest in diamonds, the suit lead by partner. Note that the ♠2 does not give suit preference in this situation! It just says you have nothing more to offer in diamonds.

More examples on how to use Smith:

Example f)

	♠A52 ♥Q94 ♦A52 ♣J983
♥8		♠Q643 ♥AJ3 ♦9863 ♣T2
	♥K

You are defending 3NT. Partner lead the ♥8 and declarer tried the ♥9. You played the ♥J and declarer won the ♥K.

Declarer continues with the ♣Q at trick 2. Which card will you play to this trick, and what would it indicate?

Play the ♣T. A high card at trick 2 will tell partner that you have further interest in the suit he lead, hearts (= You have the ♥A!).

The hearts could be something like:

	♥Q94
♥T8752		♥AJ3
	♥K6

In which case, partner needs to know you like his lead, continue with a low heart to your Ace next time he gets the hand and cash the rest of the suit.

Note that if declarer plays low at trick 1, you would also need to play low (the ♥3), because your partner's opening lead of ♥8 shows he lead his 2nd high card without holding an honor (lead 2nd without an honor, lead 4th with at least one honor – see Defense: Chapter 2). That would mean declarer has the ♥T too.

So here, when declarer tried the ♥9 instead of a low card from dummy, it is very important to play the ♣T at trick 2, indicating strong interest in heart continuation!

Example g)

	♠A52 ♥Q94 ♦A52 ♣J983
♥8		♠Q643 ♥J32 ♦9863 ♣T2
	♥K

You are defending 3NT. Partner lead the ♥8 and declarer tried the ♥9. You played the ♥J and declarer won the ♥K.

Declarer continues with the ♣Q at trick 2. Which card will you play to this trick, and what would it indicate?

Play the ♣2. A low card at trick 2 will tell partner that you have no further interest in the suit he lead, hearts (= You do not have the ♥A!).

The hearts could be:

	♥Q94
♥T875		♥J32
	♥AK6

To be continued... Next week we'll continue with more examples on how to use Smith.