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High-Low and Low-High Count Signals
Count signals may be used when either partner or declarer leads the suit. Give partner good count signals so he can count out the hand, too. Use your judgment though as some signals help declarer more than helping your partner. Sometimes right to not show a count signal if you think it will inform declarer how to play a particular suit.
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Can I show how many cards I have in a suit?
A count signal indicates the number of cards that a defender holds in a given suit. Playing high-low in a suit indicates an even number of cards in that suit, while playing low-high indicates an odd number
The count signal is used to show the number of cards held in a suit being led.
1. A high card 7 and above, shows an even number of cards in a suit being led.
2. A low card 6 and below shows an odd number of cards in a suit being led.
Count is given by playing:
1. High-Low from two cards.
2. Low from three or five cards.
3. Second-highest card followed with Third-highest from four cards.
Types of Count Signals
Hi-Low
1.) As soon as you get a chance -Discarding a high card and your second discard being a lower ranked card in the same suit no matter how high or low, tells partner that you hold an even number of cards in the suit you discarded.
Low-Hi
2.) Discarding a low card and then a higher card in a suit tells your partner that you have an odd number of cards in that particular suit Discarding the 2 of any suit automatically indicates to your partner that you have an odd number of cards in that suit because its not possible to make a high -low signal for your next discard in this suit.
Middle-Up-Down
Known as MUD. With a holding of 3 cards containing no honor cards, discard the middle card first, then the highest, and on the third lead of the suit play the lowest – partner will be able to work out where the honor cards may be lying.
Your partner can look at their own holding in that suit and dummy on the table and they often can work out declarers holding in the suit
