Trump Echo

A trump echo is a count signal in the trump suit. It is used when following suit or when ruffing a trick. Playing high-low in the trump suit indicates an odd number of trumps (usually three). This is opposite to standard count signals, in which playing high-low shows an even number of cards.

The purpose of the trump echo is to provide partner with a count of the trump suit, especially for the purpose of getting a ruff. Trump echoes should be reserved for these situations only. (Declarer gleans too much information if you always use trump echoes to give count.)

As a corollary, playing low-high in the trump suit indicates an even number of trumps. These agreements are part of standard carding, and should not be considered special carding.

Against South's 2 contract, partner leads the A:

		Dummy
		A32
		QJ9
		9863		You
		Q82		J65
				75
				K72
				T9765

West 1 2

North Pass 2

You Pass All Pass

South 1

Assuming that your side has agreed to lead the king from ace-king, then partner must be missing the K and you should discourage him by playing the 5 at trick one. However, he soldiers on with a low heart at trick two, dummy's queen capturing the trick.

At trick three, declarer plays dummy's A. Which trump card do you follow with?

This situation calls for a trump echo. You hold three trumps and are interested in a ruff, so you should play the 6. Declarer plays the 4 and partner the 7.

Declarer now leads a low spade from dummy. You complete your trump echo by playing the 5. Declarer sticks in the T and partner wins the trick with the K. Having seen your high-low signal, partner can now lead a heart for you to ruff.

The full deal:

		Dummy
		A32
		QJ9
Partner		9863		You
K7		Q82		J65
AT432				75
AQ54		Declarer		K72
J4		QT984		T9765
		K86
		JT
		AK3

Partner should have figured out the heart situation already, because declarer must hold the K after you failed to play it at trick two. But your trump echo helped clarify the situation for him.