Smith Echo for Dummies

I was explaining Smith Echo to Guthi, and figured I might as well put up a post. I don't have too much experience with Smith Echo myself so this is just an introductory, for-dummies level post.

Smith Echo is used in defense against NT contracts. It applies only when your side leads low and the declarer wins the first trick. It allows both defenders to communicate some information (i.e. attitude signal) regarding the led suit. Whatever suit the declarer plays on trick two, both defenders play high-low to encourage the originally led suit or low-high to say he holds nothing extra beyond what has already been played/promised. It is extremely useful when you need to figure out whether to continue the suit or shift when you get in, no matter which defender you are. Let me elucidate with a couple of examples:























Defending 3NT. Partner leads the spade 3, 5, J, K. Declarer plays the DK out of his hand, which you win. What do you do now? If partner started with AQ or AT of spades with five cards, a spade return immediately scuttles the contract. If he started with four cards, you may need to play a spade through declarer and get a heart back for another spade through. But what if partner does not hold the ace at all? Then a shift is in order. How do you know what the situation is? Smith Echo provides the solution. Watch partner's carding on the diamond play. If he echoes, he is indicating that a spade return will do the trick; else you have to try something else. On this hand, he plays the 3 of diamonds to your ace to indicate that he is not interested in spades (he knows you don't have the ace of spades).

Now, can you figure out what is the correct return to break the contract? Think on it...


Yes, the only winning return is the HJ, known as the "surrounding play". If declarer covers, partner wins and sends a heart through dummy's Tx; if he doesn't cover, simply play another low heart.

Remember that both defenders should be signaling in Smith Echo. Let's try a variation of the same hand, in which it is the other defender who gets back in.























You lead the spade 3, 5, J, K. Declarer plays DK out of his hand, which you win and stop to consider. If partner started with QJx of spades, you need to return a spade. Otherwise, you must shift to a low heart and hope to find partner with the king. Again, if you were watching partner's diamond cards, on this hand he would have played low to your DA, and you must switch to a heart. Remember to cash the ace of spades before switching, as you were unable to show the smith echo yourself, so he might place you with ATxxx of spades and try to return a spade through declarer instead of the heart!

There are situations in which both defenders get to show Smith Echo on Trick 2. The information communicated this way may be vital in setting the contract.

Cheers,
Prashanth.