642 - play the 
2 then either the 
4 or 
6Count Signal
A defensive card play which is designed to show partner whether the number of cards held in a suit is an odd number or an even number.
The normal way to do this is to play cards up-the-line with an odd number and to play high-low with an even number:
Holding 642 - play the 2 then either the 4 or 6
Holding 
6542 - play the 
6,
5 or 
4 then the 
2
Holding 
62 - play the 
6 then the 
2
It is also possible within this framework, to give suit preference signals for other suits. You could play the suit 
432 in any of 3 orders (2-3-4 or 3-4-2 or 2-4-3) with each having a different meaning. There is no standard agreement about this, though most would treat 2-4-3 as an interest in a higher suit.
A standard exception to this is in the trump suit. An echo (or Hi-Lo) in trumps normally shows the you have 1 more trump left AND that you can ruff something with that trump.
Compiled by Lorne Russell 2005