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 . Partner leads the
K
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
A.
8,
Dummy AT852
T4
Partner KJT
You 3
Q84
64
AKJ963
852
954
Declarer AQ2
KT9
KQJ97
J7652
Q7
8763
A3
If you play the 5
A
Example: Leading a Suit
.
T
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
6.
9,
5,
7
9.
4,
J.
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 J,
K.
QT
J
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