The Echo in Trumps. When the partner leads high trumps, the Third Hand should echo with four or more, by signalling in the trump suit. The universal form of the echo is to play first the third-best, then the fourth-best. When a player has called, and his partner leads, it is unnecessary for the caller to echo. Players seldom echo on adverse trump leads, even with five trumps.
The Four-Signal. There are several ways of showing four or more trumps without asking partner to lead them. Among some players the original lead of a strengthening card is an evidence of four trumps, and is called an Albany Lead. A player holding three cards of any plain suit, such as the 3, 4, 5, may show the number of his trumps by playing these small cards as follows:—
| No of trumps. | 1st trick. | 2nd trick. | 3rd trick. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 or less | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 exactly | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 5 ” | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 ” | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| 7 or more | 5 | 4 | 3 |
The second of these is the four-signal; the last three are trump signals. They are used only in following suit.
The four-signal is sometimes used in the trump suit as a Sub-echo, to show three trumps exactly.
Apart from signalling, trump strength may often be inferred, especially from player’s passing doubtful tricks, forcing their partners, etc.
Trump Suit Leads. When trumps are not led for the purpose of exhausting them immediately, but simply as the longest suit, the fourth-best may be led from the following:—
If the Ten accompanies the King and Queen, in the third combination, it is best to adhere to the usual lead of the King.