When is the card played showing a preference ?

Preference signals
As a general rule, when you realize that showing count will not help your partner...You can give your cards played another meaning...
Conversely, your partner, understanding that count is not important for the defense should understand that your carding is showing preference.
This carding always calls for a suit other than the one played or trump.

• A high card calls for the higuest of the remaining suits
• A small card calls for the lowest of the remaining suitss

The simplest case : On the lead of an Ace by your partner, whan the dummy has a singleton, Your card will show preference !

Simple cases in trump contracts
The card shows preference :

• On the lead of an Ace
  • if the dummy has a singleton
  • If the dummy has a doubleton, your 1st card shows parity and the 2nd preference
  l
• If your partner leads trump, The card you'll play will show preference
• When you are giving your p a ruff, the level of your card will indicate in which suit your p can out you back in hand, to get a 2nd ruff.

Certain cases are more complicated and require your full attention (next page)

More fifficult cases in trump contracts
The carding shows preference :

• If you think your partner has lead his singleton, replay that suit selecting the level of your card to tell him which suit he should return
• If you lead in your partner's suit after having shown a fit in the bidding, Choose your card to show preference for the counter-attack
• If you lead in your partner's suit and he takes it with an honor (for example, the King)and he replays the honor just below...Think!
  Normally, he should have played the lowest of equivalent honors (the Queen). If he did not do it, it was to show his interest in the highest remaining suit
• On the lead of an Ace in the suit bid by your partner, Show count first (lyour smalles, with 3 cards) ; Then play your ighest to show preference for the highest remaining suit (or smallest for lowest...)

In NT contracts
You can also use preference carding in NT contracts

• Your partner leads the King ♠ followed by the Jack:
  • You know he has the Queen and did not show it
  • Interpret it as a call for the lowest of the remaining suits !
• Conversely if your partner leads the Ace and plays the Queen on the second round, It's a clear preference for the highest remaining suit...otherwise, he would have played the Jack