Signals and Discards

		Signals and discards are an essential part of a partnerships agreement 
		and on the downside can be helpful to the declarer also.

		They are different in that signals are what card(s) we play when following
		suit and discards are what we play when we don`t follow suit - throwing 
		away cards.

		In defending there are three basic signals and discards that almost all
		partnerships use:-

			1. The Attitude Signal
			2. The Count (Distributional) Signal
			3. The Suit-Preference Signal

		When following suit, signalling, suit preference signals are rarely used.
		Attitude signals should be used when partner leads an ace, otherwise 
		giving count is the most useful signal.

		Using standard methods:-

		When showing attitude, a high card is encouraging,
					     a low card is discouraging.

		When giving count, a high card shows an even number of cards,
				         a low card shows an odd number of cards.

		With suit-preference, play a high card to show a liking for the highest 
					ranking suit, a low card for the lowest ranking.

					QJT9		On partner`s lead of the ace, show
				A		72	attitude by playing high-low showing 
							a doubleton. With 3+ small cards play 
							low, discouraging.

					AKxx		In this situation there is no point in 
				Q			showing attitude. So to be as informative 
						832	as possible to partner, play the two
							showing an odd numbered holding.
							Partner should now work out your holding.