Of the three types of defensive signals, suit-preference signals have the lowest priority:
This means that a signal should be plausibly interpreted as attitude or count first. A signal should be treated as suit-preference only if attitude or count don't make sense.
The following is an example of using a suit-preference signal while following suit. After your side bids and raises hearts, South ends up declaring
This is a situation in which an attitude signal doesn't make sense because dummy can ruff a third round of hearts. Neither is it a count situation, since you're already marked with at least three hearts on the auction. Thus it becomes a suit-preference situation. With two remaining hearts, your higher card would ask for a switch to the higher side suit (diamonds), whereas your lower card would ask for a switch to the lower side suit (clubs).
Since you're interested in a diamond shift, you should play the
Suit-preference signals are sometimes also employed when leading a suit. This is most commonly done when giving partner a ruff. In the following deal, your side is defending
This is a suit-preference situation. From the bidding, partner knows you have three hearts at your disposal. The highest card, namely the
In the actual hand, you want a diamond return, so you lead the
The full deal:
Left to his own devices, partner could have easily returned the
North AT852 T4 KJT You Q84 64 852 AQ2 J7652
West
1
3
North
Pass
4
You
2
All Pass
South
2
You play the 2 (discouraging) at trick one, since you can't be sure whether partner is leading from the ace-king or king-queen. However, at trick two partner continues with the
Dummy AT852 T4 Partner KJT You 3 Q84 64 AKJ963 852 954 Declarer AQ2 KT9 KQJ97 J7652 Q7 8763 A3
If you play the
Example: Leading a Suit
North K52 Q43 9863 You KQ8 QT AK975 A72 764
West
Pass
Pass
North
Pass
2
You
1
All Pass
South
1
You win the K and cash the A, partner following suit with the
Dummy K52 Q43 Partner 9863 You J74 KQ8 QT T6 AK975 JT5 Declarer A72 JT953 A9863 764 J82 KQ4 A2
Partner can ruff the fourth round of hearts with the
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