[kgr]

You play 3rd, 5th leads against trump contracts.
Partner leads a suit and you have eg AT432.
You take the A.
Do you normally return the original 4th best or the original 3rd/5th best? (Is it better to switch to 4th best for return)

[skjaeran]

Playing 3rd/5th leads it's standard to give present count when you return the suit. That is playing the original 4th from a 5-card suit.

[kgr]

skaeran, on Sep 28 2008, 05:19 PM, said:

Playing 3rd/5th leads it's standard to give present count when you return the suit. That is playing the original 4th from a 5-card suit.

..also if you already discarded?
e.g: Holding AT5432, you discarded the 3 and still have AT542 when partner plays to your A.
Now you return from T542 the 4?

[pclayton]

kgr, on Sep 28 2008, 07:27 AM, said:

skaeran, on Sep 28 2008, 05:19 PM, said:

Playing 3rd/5th leads it's standard to give present count when you return the suit. That is playing the original 4th from a 5-card suit.

..also if you already discarded?
e.g: Holding AT5432, you discarded the 3 and still have AT542 when partner plays to your A.
Now you return from T542 the 4?

Lead back your original 4th best. Hopefully you haven't discarded it

[skjaeran]

kgr, on Sep 28 2008, 05:27 PM, said:

skaeran, on Sep 28 2008, 05:19 PM, said:

Playing 3rd/5th leads it's standard to give present count when you return the suit. That is playing the original 4th from a 5-card suit.

..also if you already discarded?
e.g: Holding AT5432, you discarded the 3 and still have AT542 when partner plays to your A.
Now you return from T542 the 4?

Yes, except I'd not have discarded the 3.
(If I discarded from this suit I'd either have encouraged with the 2 or discouraged with the 5.)

[gnasher]

skaeran, on Sep 28 2008, 04:19 PM, said:

Playing 3rd/5th leads it's standard to give present count when you return the suit. That is playing the original 4th from a 5-card suit.

I don't think that "present count" and "original fourth best" mean the same thing here. Playing "original fourth best, you should lead back the 3; playing "present count", you should lead the 4, following the normal principle that you signal with the highest card you can afford.

[SoTired]

Normally, I return original 4th best unless I have discarded a card in this suit previously.

If I definitely do not want partner to return this suit, then I might return a high card to disc partner from leading this suit again.

If I have discarded a card in this suit previously which was a count signal, I return either a don't (high)/do (low) return this suit card, or a suit preference signal if my attitude for this suit are already known.

If my discard in this suit was a enc/disc signal, then I return present count or suit preference when obvious.

[skjaeran]

gnasher, on Oct 3 2008, 12:43 PM, said:

skaeran, on Sep 28 2008, 04:19 PM, said:

Playing 3rd/5th leads it's standard to give present count when you return the suit. That is playing the original 4th from a 5-card suit.

I don't think that "present count" and "original fourth best" mean the same thing here. Playing "original fourth best, you should lead back the 3; playing "present count", you should lead the 4, following the normal principle that you signal with the highest card you can afford.

I don't agree with "the highest card you can afford" part. But with the actual suit I'd return the 4, since that's easier to read for partner.

[SoTired]

skaeran, on Oct 4 2008, 10:13 AM, said:

I don't agree with "the highest card you can afford" part. But with the actual suit I'd return the 4, since that's easier to read for partner.

Strong disagree. Whenever you play a high signal, you always play the highest card you can afford. First, because it is easier for partner to read. 2nd, because partner can count on you not to have higher touching cards.

If you are worried that an 8 might be valuable, then that is not the highest card you can afford. You never signal with a potential trick.

An exception to the highest card rule is when you are playing to the first trick and giving count from 4 small cards. In that case you play the 2nd best followed by the 3rd best so that partner can better tell a 4-card suit from a doubleton.

[gnasher]

SoTired, on Oct 6 2008, 05:07 PM, said:

An exception to the highest card rule is when you are playing to the first trick and giving count from 4 small cards. In that case you play the 2nd best followed by the 3rd best so that partner can better tell a 4-card suit from a doubleton.

You must play against a lot of very honest declarers.