Agreeing Your Signalling Methods
Choose attitude, count and discard methods together, write them down, and use them on every board.
Signals let defenders share information without speaking. They only help if both partners use the same methods every time.
Three things to agree
Attitude: when partner leads, do you show liking for the suit by playing high (standard) or low (reverse)?
Count: when declarer leads a suit, do you play high-low with an even number of cards (standard) or with an odd number (reverse)?
Discards: what does your first discard say? Common choices are standard (high encourages), reverse (low encourages), odd-even, or McKenney/Lavinthal (suit preference).
When each applies
A simple and widely used order:
On partner's lead, signal attitude.
On declarer's lead, give count when it helps.
When you cannot follow, your discard follows your agreed method.
Agree any exceptions, such as giving count rather than attitude when partner leads an ace against a suit contract.
Keep it simple
New partnerships do best with a small number of methods used carefully. A complex system used inconsistently is worse than standard signals used every time.
Write it down
Record your signals on your convention card so you both remember them.
Key takeaways
Agree attitude, count and discards.
Agree when each signal applies.
Simple methods used consistently beat complex ones used occasionally.