The reason why nobody wants to address the problem is there is no “one size fits all” solution.

People should be taught not to blindly follow signals, but to think logically and make an educated guess when the situation is not absolutely clear (which is some of the time).

Whether standard or reverse attitude is played there is a problem if a “low” signal is called for but the only cards available to signal with are 9 and 8. Similarly if a “high” signal is called for but the only cards available to signal with are 3 and 2.

One needs to live with such problems.
At least it happens less often than with “odd-even” which fails 50% of the time when there are only 2 available cards to signal with.

As for those two specific questions:

1 is about leads not signals. Always lead top of a holding without an honour according to the NZB beginners guide. (Others might do it differently with more than two small cards (such as MUD) but to lead the top card of a doubleton is almost universal)

2 doesn’t feature in the NZB guide because King lead denies the Ace (lead top of a sequence).

Thanks for your reply, Nick.

Question 2 then, if the lead is the Ace, not the King, what do we play from 92? Do we show a doubleton the same way?

I really want to know.

Regards Stanley

Its in Improver Lesson 7 on this website

Section 2
"play low to show....a shortage (only in a trump suit contract)"

But (as  always) use common sense
fort example Don't encourage if you don't have any trumps

Everyone is saying that there are exceptions, which I understand. But what is the correct carding in the example I have given. ?

Hi Stan.

OK. I'll give it a shot.

1. This is really nothing to do with signaling reverse attitude as you are on lead. Lead top of a doubleton as per normal  - The 9.

2. This is a situation where you need to signal reverse attitude to partner - The 2, saying please continue the suit and get your ruff.

Glad to hear that somebody is listening to The Bridge Zone. We do try to help but it doesn't always work out that way :)

Cheers,

Barry

Thanks Barry. No wonder I play Standard Attitude, eh. Then I play the same card each time. 

I wonder where the logic came from to play the 9 when one plays reverse. It must come from the historical Standard, and it was too hard to change.

Anyway thank you for replying as I have had real difficulty given reasons to my pupils.

Cheers Stan

So now we come to Improver Lesson 8, 3C. Holdup play.

No doubt Bridge Zone will have fun talking about not teaching Count.

Once again its the 92. Whats our attitude here?

Cheers Stan 

There is some good advice from Kermit on Bridge Zone Sep 22 2021 (you can ff 10’ into the clip to skip Barry talking )

Basically she says signals are an exchange of information for partner to digest and think.

To blindly follow partner’s signal is Ok for scoring points over partner in the post-mortem, but not so good for trying to do well in the competition.

Imagine this:
You lead 9 from 92 in the suit partner has bid

Partner plays 3 and your 9 wins
Do you lead another one? (dummy has 2 small cards in that suit and is void in trumps)

Of course you don’t.
Partner is saying another suit should be led.
If he wanted that suit continued he would overtake your card and continue it himself.