How to Use the Smith Peter Signal

The Smith Peter is an advanced defensive signal used exclusively against No-Trump contracts. When declarer leads their first suit, either defender can play a high card followed by a low card (a "peter" or echo) in that suit. This signal has nothing to do with the suit declarer is playing; instead, it is an attitude signal regarding the opening lead. Playing high-low says, "Partner, I like the suit you led at Trick 1. Please return it when you win the lead."

Why the Smith Peter works

On Trick 1, third hand is often forced to win the trick (playing third hand high) or must play a low card because dummy won the trick. In either case, third hand cannot make a standard attitude signal to tell the opening leader whether they liked the lead.

Smith Peter solves this by delaying the signal until declarer plays a suit. It gives both defenders a reliable, dedicated mechanism to communicate about the critical opening lead suit without wasting valuable cards.

A worked example: Echoing to encourage

Defending 3NT. Partner (West) leads the ♠4. Dummy plays the ♠Q, winning the trick. You (East) play the ♠2.

Play of Trick 2 & 3:

Declarer now leads the ♦A, then the ♦K.

Your Hand (East):

♠ K 8 2

♥ Q 9 4

♦ 9 7 3

♣ J 6 5 2

Your Signal:

On the Diamond leads, play the ♦9 first, then the ♦3.

Caption: You couldn't signal on Trick 1 because dummy's Queen won. When declarer leads Diamonds, you play high-low (9 then 3). This Smith Peter tells partner you hold a high Spade honour (the King) and they should continue leading Spades as soon as they get the lead.

Four common mistakes

• Using Smith Peter in a suit contract (it is strictly for defending No-Trump).
• Wasting a potential trick-taking card (like a 10 or Jack) just to make the high-low signal.
• Confusing the signal with standard count (if you agree to play Smith Peter, it overrides count signals on declarer's first suit).
• Failing to notice partner's spot cards on declarer's lead.

When the rule does not apply

If it is mathematically vital to give partner "count" (to tell them how many times to hold up an Ace), standard count takes priority over the Smith Peter. You must also abandon the signal if playing high-low would cost your side a defensive trick.

Key takeaways

• Used only against No-Trump contracts.
• High-low on declarer's suit = "I like the opening lead."
• Low-high on declarer's suit = "I do not like the opening lead."
• Solves situations where signaling at Trick 1 is impossible.